Stop by and learn about the stone in and around the church, what causes it to crumble, and how we can care for it.
Throughout this weekend, visitors will have the opportunity to engage informally with doctoral students from the Oxford University Rock Breakdown Lab working at Iffley Church on projects related to stone degradation.
The Mobile Heritage Lab is a unique research and public engagement vehicle. It is a joint venture of University College London, the University of Oxford and the University of Brighton, and it is funded by EPSRC. The purpose of the ‘Lab-on-Wheels’ is to make Heritage Science as accessible as possible.
The Lab will be provided with scientific equipment relevant to the care and preservation of the ancient church of St Mary’s Iffley. Students will be able to explain their research into different areas of heritage science interest, such as environmental monitoring, imaging and chemical analysis. It may include ground penetrating radar, hyperspectral cameras, a weather station and pollution monitors, among other items.
Heritage science plays an important role not only in the analysis of materials, but also in engaging the public. Visitors will have a chance to try out a number of scientific instruments used by OxRBL to diagnose and quantify building decay.
Please drop in! This is a FREE event.