The laboratory was opened on December 22, 1896, by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), and was hailed as a significant contribution to British science.
The building was designed to accommodate independent investigators, and preference was given to those who had already demonstrated significant contributions to science.
[1] Lord Rayleigh and James Dewar, prominent figures in physics and chemistry, served as the laboratory’s directors without remuneration.
[2] The Prince of Wales praised the laboratory for its state-of-the-art facilities and its potential to advance scientific knowledge and innovation.
[1] Research conducted in the Davy-Faraday Laboratory includes: The Davy-Faraday Laboratory was celebrated as a pioneering establishment that supported the advancement of scientific research and the development of innovative ideas in the fields of chemistry and physics.