PHYSICAL LABORATORY <>F GREAT BRITAIN. 



345 



Bushy house 



V^J-p -WJ ^A r 



Bushy House., ground plan. 



Observatory in the Deer Park will remain as the observatory depart- 

 ment of the laboratory, and most of the important verification and 

 standardization work, which in the past has born done there, will still 

 find its home in the old building. The house was originally the official 



residence of the ranger of Bushy 

 Park. Queen Anne granted it in 

 1710 to the first Lord Halifax. 

 In 1771 it passed to Lord North, 

 being then probably rebuilt. 

 Upon the death of Lord North's 

 widow, in 17i>7, the Duke of Clar- 

 ence, afterwards William IV, be- 

 came ranger. After his death, in 

 18/7, it was granted to his widow, 

 Queen Adelaide, who lived here 

 until 1849. At her death it passed 

 to the Due de Nemours, son of 

 King Louis Philippe, and he re- 

 sided here at intervals until 1896. 

 In spite of this somewhat aristo- 

 cratic history it will make an 

 admirable laboratory. The build- 

 ing is very solid and substantial. There is a good basement under the 

 main central block, with roof of brick groining, which makes a very 

 steady support for the floor above. 



Such is the home of the laboratory. It may be of interest to compare 



it with the Iveichsanstalt. 



The floor space available is 

 much less than that of the 

 Reichsanstalt. But size alone 

 is not an unmixed advantage; 

 there is much to be said in 

 favor of gradual growth and 

 development, provided the 

 conditions are such as to 

 favoi growth. Personally I 

 would prefer to begin in a 

 small way, if only I felt sure 

 I was in a position to do the 

 work thoroughly, but there 

 is danger of starvation. Even 

 with all the help we get in freedom from rent and taxes, outside repairs 

 and maintenance, the sum at the disposal of the committee is too small. 

 Fourteen thousand pounds will not build and equip the laboratory. 

 Four thousand pounds a year will not maintain it as it ought to be 



Bushy House, basement. 



