Collection of samples of building materials used at the Building Research Station, Watford in the 1940s and '50s.
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
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. Paul's Cathedral
Pink stone taken from old St. Paul’s Cathedral
Specimen of stone from old St. Pauls Cathedral
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
Seventeen samples of floor structure, 1838, Leicestershire
Concrete from Sassanian Dam, ostensibly c.600 A.D, Persia
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
Lime Concrete Floor Specimen, early 19th century, Leicestershire
Part of Roman villa roofing tile, Cirencester
Specimen of concrete from a Persian bridge
Specimen of Roman concretes and mortars
Specimen of Roman concretes and mortars
Resin impregnated mortars, Exeter and Farnham, c.300
Specimen of Roman mortar
Specimen of Roman mortar
Roman Concrete Sample
Specimens (24) of Roman concretes and mortars
Clay pot, for vault construction
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
1800
Sample, of Roman hypocaust tile
Sample, of Roman roofing tile
Plastering on slate, in display cabinet, from 'Greenmount', Manchester
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 hardwood from Leicester Hospital, Warwick
Clay drainage tile (from B.R.S.)
1801-1830
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
Lead pipe (2 pieces) and lead sheet from cistern
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
Mortar, from Brandon castle
Bullnose brick
Large piece of friable material
Specimen of Roman concrete
See more
Details
Related Objects
Model of machine for making drain pipes
Bio-brick grown from urine, University of Cape Town
Model of NatWest Tower
Bolt with nut, from Quadrangle Storehouse at Sheerness Dockyard, England, 1824-1979
Bolt with nut, from Quadrangle Storehouse at Sheerness Dockyard, England, 1824-1979
