A LARGELY unseen vast 1820 painting of the Battle of Hastings is being revealed online for the first time.

A new partnership between English Heritage and Google Arts and Culture has used digital technology including Street View and gigapixel cameras to bring 29 historic sites across England to life for an international audience.

Among them is the painting which hangs within the private school at Battle Abbey.

From Tintagel Castle, Cornwall, where King Arthur is said to have been conceived, to a Cold War bunker in York, armchair heritage buffs will be able to explore some of England’s most famous and unusual historic sites.

For the first time, people will get to see in detail Antonio Zucchi’s 18th century ceiling paintings at Kenwood House, London, and the 17th century “Elysium” ceiling at Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire, which have been photographed in ultra-high definition.

History lovers can also get 360 degree views of the elaborately decorated Durbar Room at Osborne on the Isle of Wight and of the terrace of the stately home loved by Queen Victoria, from the comfort of their own homes.

Google’s Street View is allowing people to remotely explore the labyrinthine corridors and workshops of the Victorian J W Evans silver factory in Birmingham, normally only open to the public for pre-booked guided tours.

To view and explore the sites, people can visit g.co/EnglishHeritage.