Davy Faraday Research Laboratory staff on the roof

A short film taken on a handheld cine camera, showing the staff of the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory on the roof of the Royal Institution.

Exterior of the Ri building,
Image credit: Royal Institution

Traditionally, the research group at the Ri used to have a yearly photograph taken on the roof of the Ri. This short film captures the research group led by Lawrence Bragg in the late 1950s - early 1960s.

The film shows some of the interiors of the Ri, including the Michael Faraday statue in the grand Entrance before a panning shot of the outside of the building and the Ri Porter on duty is filmed. It is interesting to note that the traffic is moving in the opposite direction compared with today. The famous columned façade of the Ri can be seen, black in colour from fumes compared to today's conserved and cleaned columns in cream.