Jane Brandreth Holt

From the University of Liverpool, History of the Jane Herdman Laboratories:

"This year (1999) will see the 70th anniversary of the opening of Jane Herdman Laboratories and an excerpt from the booklet published to mark the inauguration of the building follows: 'On October 21st, 1929, members of the University of Liverpool and many distinguished guests assembled for the formal opening of the new geological laboratories by the Rt. Hon. Baldwin, P.C., M.P., F.R.S. These laboratories were erected as a memorial to the late Lady Herdman through the generosity of her husband, Sir William Herdman, and members of his family. Sir William Herdman, C.B.E., F.R.S., Derby Professor of Natural History in the University from 1881 to 1919, and Professor of Oceanography from 1919 to 1920, was widely known as a great zoologist and oceanographer. Although his attention was largely devoted to these subjects, he had maintained a keen interest in geology since his early youth, when, as a student in the University of Edinburgh, he sat at the feet of Sir Archibald Geikie. As a result, he filled the office of President of the Liverpool Geological Society from 1898 to 1900, and was awarded the Society's medal in 1922 in recognition of his furtherance of local geological work.

"Already, in 1916, Sir William and Lady Herdman had done much to further the cause of geology in Liverpool, for they jointly endowed the George Herdman Chair of Geology in memory of their son, who was killed in the Great War. Later, in 1919, they also endowed a Chair of Oceanography in the University.

"On the untimely death of Lady Herdman in 1922, Sir William added to these munificent gifts a donation of £20,000 towards the cost of new geological laboratories, for the existing accommodation of the geological school had long proved inadequate. From the time of its inception in 1917, the Department of Geology had been housed in the two upper storeys of the southern end of the Zoology block of buildings in Brownlow Street, above the Department of Applied Electricity. The School of Geology owed even this accommodation to the foresight of Sir William Herdman, for, on the erection in 1905 of the group of buildings in which the Departments of Zoology and Applied Electricity were to be housed, he secured the reservation of the two storeys mentioned above for the future Department of Geology, which he had long hoped might be established.

"It was Sir William Herdman's wish that the new laboratories should constitute a memorial to his wife. His lamented death in 1924 prevented his seeing the fulfilment of his wish. In order that the scheme might be completed at the earliest possible date, a number of his friends have generously provided additional funds; for the cost of the new building, including its equipment, has amounted to rather more than £37,000'

"Inside the main entrance to the building is a bronze memorial tablet with the inscription "Jane Herdman Laboratories of Geology. By the gift of Sir William Herdman, C.B.E., D.Sc., F.R.S., Professor of Natural History in the University 1881-1920 this building was erected for the advancement of geological science and in memory of his wife Jane Herdman 1867-1922."

"There have been numerous changes to the building over the years, none more so than the addition of the annexe to the main building, which was completed in the mid-1980's, but the building still has many of the original features."