'Dr. Daubeny had hitherto delivered his professorial lectures on Chemistry in the basement of the Ashmolean Building, in a subterranean room which was quite unfit for the purpose... He determined, therefore, to erect a Lecture Room and Laboratory close to the Garden, and the work was actually commenced in 1848, the year after he had held the office of Bursar at Magdalen College.' (8-9)

'The conditions on which Dr. Daubeny was permitted by Magdalen College to build are stated in the College Order for November 12, 1847:

'Dr. Daubeny having requested permission to build a Lecture Room on the ground adjoining the Physic Garden, the spot on which it is placed to be at any time resumable by the College, it is agreed to grant him leave to build the Lecture Room on the proposed spot near the principal gate of the Garden at the distance of at least three feet from the wall. It is further agreed to allow Dr. Daubeny, his heirs or assigns, the sum of £282, being a moiety of the sum proposed to be laid out by Dr. Daubeny in case the Society shall at any time hereafter within the period of twenty years find occasion or think it proper, after six months' notice, to resume the whole of the ground into their own hands, but after that time the College shall have the option of assuming it without any payment.'' (9)