Interieur van Hedingham Castle in Essex 1855 - 1890

Editor: Here we have Baldwin Fleming’s "Interior of Hedingham Castle in Essex," a photograph taken sometime between 1855 and 1890. It feels quite imposing, the way the architecture is rendered. What can you tell me about this space and how it reflects its time? Curator: This image offers a fascinating glimpse into how historical spaces were being documented and, arguably, refashioned in the Victorian era. Photography allowed for a new level of detail in recording architecture. This was a period of intense interest in medieval history and a rise in historical societies and preservation efforts. What do you notice about the composition and how it might be shaping our understanding of the castle? Editor: I’m struck by how empty it is. The space feels staged somehow, like it's waiting for something to happen. Was it common to photograph spaces without people in them? Curator: Yes, quite often. Early photography required long exposure times, which made capturing moving figures challenging. But more than that, think about what an empty historical space *meant* to a Victorian audience. It’s about evoking the past, about creating a sense of solemn grandeur and timelessness. These images often contributed to a romantic, somewhat idealized, vision of the medieval period. How does seeing it this way, devoid of daily life, impact how we engage with the past? Editor: It definitely feels… distant. Almost like a stage set for a historical drama rather than a place where people lived and worked. I never really considered how photography itself could shape our view of history like that. Curator: Exactly. It’s not just a neutral record. This photo plays a role in shaping how we understand and interact with history, framing it in a specific, constructed way. That’s something to always be aware of.