Down House is a Grade 1 Listed building owned by English Heritage. It was here that Darwin put many of his theories onto paper. It is now a museum, which can be visited by the public between February and December. The grounds around the house can also be visited and demonstrate an exceptionally complete and well-documented survival of a 19th Century European villa garden. Much of Darwin’s experimental work, that led to his internationally significant theories, was carried out in the garden, meadows and woods of this small estate or in the surrounding countryside. Of particular importance is the famous Sand-Walk copse, or Darwin’s ‘thinking path’ which he walked round every day, and Great Puckland’s Meadow where Darwin collected numerous plants and insects.
Date: 19th May 2007
All are welcome
LERN will cover entry costs to the house and gardens.
Provisional Itinerary:
Meet at Charing Cross station at 11am.
Train from Charing Cross to Orpington 11.26am-11.59am
Bus from Orpington to Down House 12.18pm-12.34pm
Approx 4 hours at Down House
Bus from Down House to Orpington 16.20pm-16.35pm
Train from Orpington to Charing Cross 16.42pm-17.18pm
