The definition of a mad scientist’s house

Last week, Ruddlesden geotechnical had a site with more than one interesting story: the definition of a mad scientist’s house.

The previous owner had lived and worked in the property for all of his professional life.

The property was amazing in many ways; the conversion into a laboratory and masses of hoarded junk often masked the untouched, original Victorian details of the building.

Don’t be mistaken, in its time, this was a fully functional laboratory, working on behalf of hospitals and the government, and employing staff. In the 1950s and 1960s, the former owner carried out ground-breaking research into the dangers of asbestos. It is with no irony that he died from mesothelioma.

Clearly an eccentric with an eye for detail, the homemade storage shelves were all equally spaced and completely true, with each screw in perfect lines, and each screwhead left in the horizontal position.