From Ely Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament: The Watson Building Stones Collection

Drop into the Department of Earth Sciences and discover an impressive display of building stones, roofing slates, road stones, flagstones and decorative and ornamental stones that were used extensively throughout Britain and globally during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The display is part of a collection of 2500 specimens given to the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences by John Watson (1842-1918), who worked in the Portland Cement industry.

From Lincolnshire to Bermuda, the specimens are arranged by composition, from igneous rocks such as granite, to metamorphics such as slate, and sedimentary rocks such as limestone and sandstone.

The collection is mostly displayed in its original bespoke Edwardian cabinets, in the Watson Gallery, used as the common room by students and staff of the Department of Earth Sciences.

Free, brief introductory talks will be available, on the hour, on a drop-in basis. Staff and volunteers will be present throughout the day to discuss the gallery.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 07 September:

1000-1600

Location & directions

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, The Watson Gallery Common Room, Downing Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3EQ

Directions:

Do NOT go up the steps to the entrance to the Museum. Instead, follow the sign to the right of the Museum steps, and the bear sculpture. The event is located the ground floor, directly under the museum.

Contact on day:

[email protected]

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Step free access

Additional information

Max no of people per tour:

100

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