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Museum Of The History Of Science, Oxford

In an accident of history Oxford has been central to science in Britain since the mid seventeenth century. The 1650s saw a group of London based scientists centred around Robert Boyle starting work in Oxford. Many Oxford academics had fallen into disfavour following the Civil War when Oxford had supported the defeated Royalist cause. Oliver Cromwell, needing some new academics, moved in the group from London, amongst whom were the greatest scientific minds of the age. Robert Boyle, using his personal fortune, set up an ambitious independent research group. In 1653 a young Robert Hooke of Christ Church College, joined Boyle's group, and went on to become one of the architect's of the Newtonian revolution in science. All this work was done outside the normal university curriculum which was generally designed to train men for the Church. Nevertheless the arrival of Robert Boyle meant Oxford has been associated with science for over 350 years.

The Museum Of The History Of Science is housed in the old Ashmolean Museum building in Oxford's Broad Street. This is the oldest purpose built museum building in the country, dating to 1683. The collection includes over 10,000 items relating to science history. Science relies on the act of looking at things, rather than quietly thinking, so the very fact that you go into a museum to look at artifacts is an indication of the nature of science and the scientific age. The collection has objects from ancient times to the present day. Optical instruments, telescopes, cameras, microscopes, chemistry apparatus, and objects relating to mathematics are particularly well represented. There is also a library storing many manuscripts, drawings and photographs related to the history of science.

Opening Times : Tuesday to Friday 12am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 2pm - 5pm.

Directions: The museum is located in Broad Street, next to the Sheldonian Theatre. Car parking in the centre of Oxford is limited and expensive. There are good park and ride facilities on the main roads into Oxford. The museum is about a ten minute walk from the railway station. Click here for an interactive map centred on Oxford.

Access: Call before you visit. Use of a lift is usually, but not always, available.

Contact:

telephone: 01865 277280

web site: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/index.htm