15-04-2025
Rock-dropping seagull closes university building
A University of Oxford building has been closed for almost a week after a seagull broke a glass roof by repeatedly dropping a stone on it.
A spokesperson for the Blavatnik School of Government has confirmed the bird caused damage to a glass panel on the roof on Wednesday.
In a video posted online by The Telegraph, the bird can be seen bouncing a large stone off the glass roof of the building.
A spokesperson for the school said it remained closed while work was undertaken to repair the glass panel.
They added: "We hope the building will be open as normal again soon."
The school of government is home to visiting professors like human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and former prime minister Rishi Sunak.
The building reportedly cost £55m to build and is currently being run by chancellor Rachel Reeves's husband, Nicholas Joicey.
Russian-born businessman Leonard Blavatnik donated £75m towards the school.
Seagulls are known to drop shellfish on the ground to try to break them and experts believe the rock being dropped could be an extension of this behaviour.
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Former PM Sunak takes up Oxford and Stanford roles
Amal Clooney appointed to Oxford university role
Riba Stirling Prize 2016: Blavatnik School of Government
Blavatnik School of Government
