This is one of Mad Jack Fuller's follies built in and around
Brightling East Sussex.
Designed by Sir Robert Smirke in 1810, the Brightling
Observatory was completed in 1818. It is located on the
Brightling-Burwash road.
The Observatory was equipped with expensive equipment including
a Camera Obscura. During the 19th century, room Camera Obscuras
became very popular across Europe. Originating from the Latin
meaning " dark room " the Camera Obscura is considered the
forerunner of the modern portable camera. Through a tiny hole in
one wall, replaced in later models by a lens, an image was
projected onto the opposite wall. Artists used different types of
Camera Obscura to trace accurate images from nature and incorporate
these images into their drawings and paintings.
It is commonly believed that Fuller's inspiration for building
the Observatory came from his friend and noted astronomer Sir
William Herschel. Born Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel in Germany,
Herschel is perhaps best known for his discovery of the planet
Uranus in 1781.
The observatory is now a private residence but you can drive
close by but there are many trees around the site.
The cache contains small bags of old coins.