Cambridge Physics - The Cavendish Laboratory

1. Seventeenth Century Physics
2. Physics and Industry
3. Planning a Laboratory
4. Professor and Laboratory
5. Design of the Cavendish
6. Teaching and Research
7. Expanding the Cavendish
8. A World-Class Laboratory
9. The Rayleigh Wing
10. Cambridge and Manchester
11. Rutherford's Laboratory
12. The Mond Laboratory
13. The Austin Wing
14. Research Groups
15. A Laboratory Among Many
16. The Move to West Cambridge

9. The Rayleigh Wing

While the Cavendish was attracting men with one hand, it was pushing them away with the other. Space was incredibly limited and the influx of new students quickly filled the extension that opened in 1896. More space was needed.

In 1904 the former Cavendish Professor Lord Rayleigh won the Nobel Prize. He wished to give the money to the University, and £5,000 went to the Cavendish. J.J. suggested that the money be used to build an extension on Free School Lane, which was approved. W.M. Fawcett again designed plans and Sindall tendered £7,135. J.J. offered £2,000 that he had collected from fees, and construction began in the Autumn of 1907.

On 16th June 1908 Lord Rayleigh opened the new Rayleigh Wing. For the first time in decades there was enough room to deliver all the classes in physics inside the Cavendish. The college tutors now only needed to supplement the teaching of the University, which could provide systematic classes itself.