Collection of samples of building materials used at the Building Research Station, Watford in the 1940s and '50s.

Specimen of stone from St

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Specimen of stone from St
Ministry of Technology (Watford)
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Collection of samples of building materials made by Dr. S.B. Hamilton and Dr. N. Davey of the Building Research Station, Watford

This collection of samples of building materials were used by Dr S.B. Hamilton and Dr Norman Davey of the Building Research Station (BRS), Watford. The collection of specimens were collected from all over Britain (and some further afield) in the 1940s and ‘50s, mainly from archaeological digs, and brought to the BRS so they could be materials tested in different ways.

Some samples were cut open and analysed, some were broken down with acid, some were coated in resin to bring out their features and photographed under a microscope.

Stone from "vitrified fort" at Finavon, Scotland

Stone from "vitrified fort" at Finavon, Scotland

Stone from "vitrified fort" at Finavon, Scotland

Stone from "vitrified fort" at Finavon, Scotland

Specimen of Roman slaking pit concrete

Specimen of Roman slaking pit concrete

Ten pieces of wattle and daub panel

1301-1400

Stone from St. Pauls Cathedral, (pink discolouration caused by the Great Fire, 1666)

Stone from St. Pauls Cathedral, (pink discolouration caused by the Great Fire, 1666)

Stone from St. Paul's Cathedral

Pink stone taken from old St. Paul’s Cathedral

Pink stone taken from old St. Paul’s Cathedral

Specimen of stone from old St. Pauls Cathedral

Specimen of stone from old St. Pauls Cathedral

Stone from old St. Paul’s Cathedral (built from 1087 to 1314)

Stone from old St. Paul’s Cathedral (built from 1087 to 1314)

Sample of wall plaster, Exeter, 1500-1599

Sample of wall plaster, Exeter, 1500-1599

Sample of wall plaster, Exeter, 1500-1599

Sample of wall plaster, Exeter, 1500-1599

Sample of wall plaster, Exeter, 1500-1599

Sample of wall plaster, Exeter, 1500-1599

Sample of wall plaster, Exeter, 1500-1599

Sample of wall plaster, Exeter, 1500-1599

Seventeen samples of floor structure, 1838, Leicestershire

Seventeen samples of floor structure, 1838, Leicestershire

Concrete from Sassanian Dam, ostensibly c.600 A.D, Persia

Concrete from Sassanian Dam, ostensibly c.600 A.D, Persia

Sample of concrete, from Sassanian Dam, 600 A.D

Sample of concrete, from Sassanian Dam, 600 A.D

Concrete from Sassanian Dam, ostensibly c.600 A.D, Persia

Mathematical Tile, from Sussex

Mathematical Tile, from Sussex

Mathematical Tile, from Sussex

Mathematical Tile, from Sussex

Lime Concrete Floor Specimen, early 19th century, Leicestershire

Lime Concrete Floor Specimen, early 19th century, Leicestershire

Part of Roman villa roofing tile, Cirencester

Part of Roman villa roofing tile, Cirencester

Specimen of concrete from a Persian bridge

Specimen of concrete from a Persian bridge

Specimen of Roman concretes and mortars

Specimen of Roman concretes and mortars

Specimen of Roman concretes and mortars

Specimen of Roman concretes and mortars

Resin impregnated mortars, Exeter and Farnham, c.300

Resin impregnated mortars, Exeter and Farnham, c.300

Specimen of Roman mortar

Specimen of Roman mortar

Roman Concrete Sample

Roman Concrete Sample

Specimens (24) of Roman concretes and mortars

Clay pot, for vault construction

Clay pot, for vault construction

Specimen, of Roman Villa wall tile

Specimen, of Roman Villa wall tile

Pieces (19) of tiles, from St. George's Southwark

Hollow clay tile, from R.A.F. Stanmore Park, 1800

Hollow clay tile, from R.A.F. Stanmore Park, 1800

1800

Sample, of Roman hypocaust tile

Sample, of Roman hypocaust tile

Sample, of Roman roofing tile

Sample, of Roman roofing tile

Plastering on slate, in display cabinet, from 'Greenmount', Manchester

Plastering on slate, in display cabinet, from 'Greenmount', Manchester

1870

Brad for holding slates in ceiling construction, 1870

Brad for holding slates in ceiling construction, 1870

Metal brads for holding slates

Sliver of chestnut wood, from King James' Hall, Warwick

Sliver of chestnut wood, from King James' Hall, Warwick

Sliver of hardwood from Leicester Hospital, Warwick

Sliver of hardwood from Leicester Hospital, Warwick

Clay drainage tile (from B.R.S.)

1801-1830

Cavity wall ties (2) from Reddish Conservative Club

Cavity wall ties (2) from Reddish Conservative Club

1880

Painted Greek tile from the 5th-3rd century B.C

Specimens (2) of sand-pebble dashed mortar. Old Parish church

Specimens (2) of sand-pebble dashed mortar. Old Parish church

Lead pipe (2 pieces) and lead sheet from cistern

Specimens (4) of decorated wall plaster

Specimens (4) of decorated wall plaster

Pieces (11) of Roman tile

Samples of reinforcement

1860

2" Tudor bricks (2), from a farmhouse, Horton Kirby, Kent

2" Tudor bricks (2), from a farmhouse, Horton Kirby, Kent

Mortar, from Brandon castle

Mortar, from Brandon castle

Bullnose brick

Bullnose brick

Large piece of friable material

Specimen of Roman concrete

Specimen of Roman concrete

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Details

Category:
Building Construction
Object Number:
1966-376
type:
samples of building materials
credit:
Ministry of Technology (Watford)