Maybe I’m wrong, but I remember my mother always telling me: dear son, old stuff dies in the house of fools
The Northumberland refractor in Cambridge is still in regular use. I have used it myself and it is a fine instrument.
The 12″ Northumberland was built in 1834, so pre-Victorian.
The 1864 Thorrowgood is also a fine scope. That one is only 8″ aperture.
I have also looked through a 17th century refactor, an exhibit in the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford. The roof of Blackwell’s bookshop was clearly visible through a conveniently placed window.
Some stuff has to be extremely old before it dies.