![Dyson Perrins Lab Entrance University of Oxford](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Dyson_Perrins_Lab_Entrance_University_of_Oxford.JPG)
The Dyson Perrins Laboratory is in the science area of the University of Oxford and was the main centre for research into
organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbon atoms.Clayden, J.; ...
of the University from its foundation in 1916 until its closure as a research laboratory in 2003. Until 2018, parts of the building were used as teaching laboratories in which undergraduate students were trained in practical organic chemistry.
It was founded with an endowment from
Charles Dyson Perrins, heir to the
Lea & Perrins
Lea & Perrins (L&P) is a United Kingdom-based subsidiary of Kraft Heinz, originating in Worcester, England where it continues to operate. It is best known as the maker of Lea & Perrins brand of Worcestershire sauce, which was first sold in 183 ...
Worcestershire sauce company, and stands on the north side of South Parks Road in Oxford.
Notable chemists
The heads of the laboratory were the four consecutive
Waynflete Professors of Chemistry:
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William Henry Perkin, Jr., from 1912 to 1929;
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Sir Robert Robinson, from 1930 to 1954.
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes ( ; sv, Nobelpriset ; no, Nobelprisen ) are five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind." Alfr ...
winner, 1947;
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Sir Ewart Jones, from 1954 to 1978;
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Sir Jack Baldwin, from 1978 to 2003.
During its 87-year working life, the laboratory had an extremely distinguished career; it can claim a stake in shaping the scientific careers of two Nobel Laureates, namely
Lord Todd
Alexander Robertus Todd, Baron Todd (2 October 1907 – 10 January 1997) was a British biochemist whose research on the structure and synthesis of nucleotides, nucleosides, and nucleotide coenzymes gained him the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1 ...
(1957) and
Sir John W. Cornforth (1975) who passed their formative years as young chemists in the laboratories.
History and present use
![Dyson Perrins Lab Plaque Royal Society of Chemistry](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Dyson_Perrins_Lab_Plaque_Royal_Society_of_Chemistry.JPG)
The building of the laboratory began in 1913 and was finished in 1916 to the designs of
Paul Waterhouse
Paul Waterhouse (29 October 1861 – 19 December 1924) was a British architect.
Early life
Paul Waterhouse was born on 29 October 1861 in Manchester, England. He was the son and business partner of Alfred Waterhouse, an architect who designed ...
, the contractors being Armitage and Hodgson of Leeds. Funding came in part from C. W. Dyson Perrins of Queen's College. In 1920–22 an eastern wing was added as contemplated in the original design, this was followed in 1934 by an extension for medical students and in 1940–41 a new brick wing to the north was built.
["The University Press and other modern buildings", in: ''A History of the County of Oxford; Volume 3: The University of Oxford'' (1954), pp. 56-60]
Research in organic chemistry at Oxford is now conducted across
South Parks Road
South Parks Road is a road in Oxford, England. It runs east–west past the main Science Area of the University of Oxford. Many of the university science departments are located nearby or face the road, including parts of the geography, zoo ...
at the University's state-of-the-art
Chemistry Research Laboratory. The majority of the building has been handed over to the
Oxford University Geography Department for the establishment of the
Oxford University Centre for the Environment
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the Un ...
(OUCE).
References
External links
Organic Chemistry at the University of OxfordHistoric Chemical Landmarkaward from the
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society (professional association) in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemistry, chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the Ro ...
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1916 establishments in England
2003 disestablishments in England
Departments of the University of Oxford
History of chemistry
University and college laboratories in the United Kingdom
Chemistry laboratories