The back of Down House today
Down House
Charles Darwin and his family moved from busy, noisy London to the village of Down (later Downe) in 1842. Here Darwin would live and work for the rest of his life.
There are more sources and more information about Darwin's Down House in Darwin Online than anywhere else in the world. This page gives an overview of this vast amount of material.
See Down House in the texts in Darwin Online here and in Darwin's manuscripts and private papers here. Mentions of the sandwalk here, here & here. You can search for other Down House terms such as 'hothouse' here 'hot house' here. or 'greenhouse' here.
Early guides to Down House
[Keith]. 1929. Down House. Text PDF
Howarth. [1933]. A history of Darwin's parish: Downe, Kent. Text Image PDF
[1946.] Historical and descriptive catalogue of the Darwin Memorial at Down House Downe, Kent. Text PDF / Text
Atkins. 1976. Down: the home of the Darwins; the story of a house and the people who lived there. Text PDF
[Titheradge]. 1981. The Charles Darwin memorial at Down House, Downe, Kent. Text PDF
See also:
Catalogue of Darwin papers etc. in the Down House collection here.
Darwin's personal 'Journal'. Intro Text & image
Census returns of England and Wales. Text
Darwin's Catalogue of trees and plants at Down House. Text Image PDF
Darwin, [1852]. Notes on the chain for the well at Down House. Text Image
On the flight paths of male humble bees. PDF F1580 (trans. of F1602)
Charles Darwin: Justice of the peace. The complete records (1857-1882). Text PDF
The back of Down House drawn from memory with Darwin added. Allgemeine illustrierte Zeitung 1882
Postcard of the back of Down House c.1910
The front of Down House today
The Complete Library of Charles Darwin - as it was at Down House
Recollections of Darwin - unique details and insights recalled by people who knew or met Darwin - most are relevant to Down House.
Complete Photographs of Darwin (PDF) - an unprecedented quantum leap in our knowledge of the photographs of Darwin
Caricatures of Darwin and evolution 1860-1939 - 900 pages across four catalogues - the largest collection in history with hundreds of newly uncovered illustrations including more than 40 caricatures of Darwin unknown before
Drafts of the Origin of Species - the most detailed and complete collection of the surviving drafts of the book that changed the world - written in the Old Study at Down House
Map of Down House and grounds from Darwin: A Companion, 2021.
This work includes the most complete itinerary of Darwin's whereabouts during his life ever published as well as the most complete list of visitors to the Darwins at Down House. Far from the idea of Darwin as a recluse - they received very many visitors. This book also includes the most complete list of drawings, paintings and photographs of Down House and grounds ever published.
The Sandwalk in 1908
The Sandwalk today
The 'worm stone' today.
Engaraving of the New Study by Axel H. Haig shortly after Darwin's death in 1882.
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