The Queen's Building

Joseph Priestly Building                                                                                The Clock Tower

The Queen’s Building was originally designed as a new science building containing a library, now known as the Octagon. It was built with the intention of bringing in more science students. The Queen’s Building architect was Mr E. R. Robson. 

According to the building’s plans in 1956, the total building costs half a million pounds.  

Queen Mary College began to admit students for the subjects of Chemistry, Physics, Botany and Zoology in October 1961. The Queen’s Building provided labs and lecture halls for approximately 270 students.  

The new science building consists of five floors and a basement in the main block, with two side wings, one containing lecture theatres, and the other the Zoology department. In the main block, the floors are allotted as follows: basement, workshop; ground and first floors, physics; second and third floors, chemistry; forth floor, botany. 

The foundation stone was laid by Sir John Cockcroft, O.M., K.C.B., C.B.E., F.R.S., on May 3rd 1960. 

The Queen's Hall's foundation stone was laid by the Prince of Wales in June 1886, and Queen Victoria officially opened it the following year. The Queen's Hall hosted a variety of events, including lectures, concerts, organ recitals, exhibitions, and entertainment, drawing large crowds. 

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_{Queen Mary University of London Archives, Reference: WFD/12/3/2, WFD/12/3/1}