7.
Expanding the Cavendish
In
1882 Rayleigh opened the Cavendish to women on equal
terms with men. There were now 62 students, more than
twice the numbers of just three years earlier. By 1884,
when J.J. Thomson became Cavendish Professor, there
were 60 students in the elementary classes and 20 in
the advanced, and only a year later the Cavendish was
used by 100 people, of which 10 were doing active research.
Physics had become the favourite scientific subject
at Cambridge University.
This
rapid growth in the Laboratory's popularity was not
without its problems. Although the lecture hall could
easily accommodate the numbers, practical classes were
overcrowded. In 1888 medical students were admitted
to study practical physics classes, increasing numbers
to more than 150. It was too much, and more room was
needed.
In
1890 a corrugated iron shed, formerly used for dissection,
became available and was quickly put to use. J.J. also
petitioned for a three-storey extension, and in 1893
an adjoining site in Free School Lane was assigned.
J.J. himself offered money that he had collected from
fees, allowing the ground floor to be constructed by
Sindall of Cambridge, who tendered £4,000. The
extension was first used in 1896.
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