Abbot's Kitchen, Oxford facts for kids
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The Abbot's Kitchen in Oxford, England, is a very old chemistry laboratory. It was designed like the famous Abbot's Kitchen at Glastonbury Abbey. That building was a mediaeval (Middle Ages) kitchen from the 1300s. It had a unique eight-sided shape.
Today, the Abbot's Kitchen in Oxford is still an important place. It helps us understand how science labs have changed over time.
Contents
History of the Abbot's Kitchen Laboratory
Chemistry became a separate subject at Oxford University because of this building. The Abbot's Kitchen laboratory was built next to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. It first opened its doors in 1860.
Building a Chemistry Lab in Oxford
This laboratory is made of stone. It stands to the right of the main museum building. It was built in the Victorian Gothic style. This style was popular during Queen Victoria's time. The Abbot's Kitchen was one of the first buildings ever made just for chemistry experiments.
Expansions and Modern Use
The laboratory was made bigger in 1878. A much larger addition, with three new sections, was finished in 1957. Now, the Abbot's Kitchen is part of Reuben College. This is a new college for university students studying for advanced degrees. Reuben College opened in 2023.
Images for kids
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The Oxford University Museum of Natural History (left) and the Abbot's Kitchen chemistry laboratory (right)
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A wood engraving from 1855 showing the Oxford University Museum with the smaller, eight-sided Abbot's Kitchen building on the right
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The Radcliffe Science Library with the Abbot's Kitchen on the left
