Cavendish Laboratory of Experimental Physics is a Grade II listed building in the Cambridge local planning authority area, England. First listed on 26 April 1950. Laboratory. 5 related planning applications.
Cavendish Laboratory of Experimental Physics
- WRENN ID
- sombre-joist-lake
- Grade
- II
- Local Planning Authority
- Cambridge
- Constituency
- Cambridge MP: Daniel Zeichner (Lab)
- Country
- England
- Date first listed
- 26 April 1950
- Type
- Laboratory
- Address
- Cavendish Laboratory of Experimental Physics, Free School Lane, CB2 3RF
- OS grid reference
- TL 448 582
- Coordinates
- 52.2036, 0.11878
- Source
- Historic England listing
Description
The Cavendish Laboratory of Experimental Physics, built in 1874 by architect Fawcett, is a three-storey building located on Free School Lane. It features stone facing and three-light windows. Notably, it includes a fine early Renaissance stone doorway from the Perse School, dating to around 1600. The south wing was added in 1896, and the north wing in 1908, both designed by Fawcett as well. The laboratory holds significant historical importance as it is where Lord Rutherford first split the atom in 1929.
Local climate
Cavendish Laboratory of Experimental Physics sits in one of the driest parts of the UK, with an average of 690 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 96% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 82% of listed buildings.
It experiences an average of 32 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 57% of listed buildings. Of these, 15 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.
Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.
More on this building
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- No EPC on record for this property
- No sale records on file
- Related listed building consents — 5 applications
- Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
- Flood risk assessment
- Radon risk assessment
- Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.
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