Herschel Museum Exhibition – Making Light of It

The art and science of light in the 18th Century

From humble rush lights and tallow to ruinously expensive beeswax candles, light was increasingly important in the Georgian home.  Above stairs gleaming mirrors reflected the light, it rainbowed off crystal chandeliers and danced on the burnished gilt picture frames.

At 29 New King Street William Herschel was frantically busy in his workshop polishing mirrors for his reflecting telescopes, but it was sunlight playing on a prism that led him to the discovery of infra-red.

The museum offers a range of activities including a new family trail, schools workshops and an outreach programme linked to Making Light of It.