Rutherford's Den

About Lord Rutherford

Ernest Rutherford attended Canterbury College from 1890 to 1895, through a Junior University Scholarship he won while at Nelson College.

During these years he completed three degrees. The first was a Bachelor of Arts course, which required a pass in at least six subjects, of which Latin and pure mathematics were compulsory. Rutherford also won a local scholarship to the value of twenty pounds in each year of his undergraduate course.

It is clear from the university records that Rutherford’s main contacts were with Professors Bickerton and Cooke. The influence of both professors extended to Rutherford’s honours year when he gained a coveted double first in mathematics and in physical science.

Rutherford’s activities while at college included Science Society meetings, the minutes of which reveal his early interests. He made comments on a paper entitled “Atoms and Molecules” and later gave his own paper on “Electric Waves and Oscillations”.

By the time Rutherford started his third year, he had been accepted into the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. He was also elected Treasurer of the Dialectic Society, taking part in some lively debates.

During Rutherford’s fourth year at Canterbury College, his Masters degree course required some original research and he opted to work on electricity and magnetism. As the college did not have a physics laboratory, Rutherford worked in various spaces in the Chemistry department, but could not leave his delicate equipment set up there. He tried various corridors and even the Great Hall, until it was needed for end-of-year exams.

Late in 1883, Rutherford worked in one of the dens below the tiered seating under the Clock Tower lecture rooms. In April 1894, together with Jack Erskine, Rutherford wrote a letter applying for the use of the den under the west end of the Clock Tower lecture rooms.

Although it was cramped and cold, the den had a solid concrete floor that minimised vibrations that could upset his research equipment. Rutherford’s Den, as it was later called, was fortunately preserved and is now the highlight of the visitor centre.

Rutherford’s experimental work on the high frequency magnetisation of iron formed the basis of his application for an Exhibition of 1851 Scholarship, which provided funds for post-graduate researchers from “The Dominions”. The winning of the Exhibition Scholarship in 1895 finally provided Rutherford with the funds to do overseas research.

By August 1st 1895, he had packed up his research apparatus and papers and was on a steamer to England and a new life at Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge.