RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1843-1852. Notes on the Well at Down House. EH88202558. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Photographed by Down House volunteers. Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2025. RN2
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with the permission of English Heritage (Darwin Collection at Down House) and William Huxley Darwin. With thanks to Paul Whincup. Particular thanks are due to Sabrina Villani of English Heritage for generously helping with access to Darwin's papers at Down House and much other invaluable information and assistance and undertaking to facilitate help from the dedicated group of Down House volunteers.
See:
Darwin, 1852. Bucket ropes for wells. Gardeners' Chronicle (10 January): 22. Text F1680
Darwin, 1857. The subject of deep wells. Gardeners' Chronicle (25 July): 518. Text F1696
Darwin, [1852]. Notes on the chain for the well at Down House. Text & image Carroll5
Paul Whincup, Darwin's deep well at Down House. Hydrogeology Journal, 2021 and Whincup, Darwin's Water Management. The Linnean, 2021.
[1]
April 15th 1843. The well from trap-door is 325 deep of which 65 ft is now water — [under '65':] [-] 41 [=] 24
The large bucket does not reach bottom for 41 feet. This bucket holds 12 gallon.— This takes 12 minutes drawing [time], of which during two, bucket turns by itself.— The light buckets are expected to take 9 minutes & of which during 3 ½ minutes to turn by self.—
45
Sept. 2d / 47/ Chain old 114 ft. newer 137 167 ft 167 114 245 [=] 281
(over
[archivist number] 42
[1v]
The chain in actual use weigh: 232 lb Jan 5 1852
12 gallons of water = 48 lb 96 440
Bucket 40 lb 40
320 lb. 136
July 16, 1852 took off 17 ft of chain weighing 14 ½ ∴ whole new weighs 217 ½ lb
July put on the 17 feet of chain again.
Ten & 82 the number of cogs on two wheels of my well.
Jan 1 1854. Took off nearly 20 feet more
Sept. 1856 — Water in well 46 ½ feet deep.
25 ft to top of wheel
Aug 1. 1857 Water about 41. lb.
[1a]
July 12, 1852. Depth from trap-door to bottom 328 feet. Depth of water (twice measured) 42 feet.
Length of chain from top of handle of bucket to handle over wheel, 311.6. But the 2 links are 1.9' long so chain itself is 309 ft . 9 in long, & though on Jan 8 1852, weighed 232 lb.—
(N.B chain cost 9d per foot) but now with 17ft taken off it weigh (July 17. 52) 217 ½ lb. & is 292 ft . 9. long
Wire rope weighs 50 lb.—
[archivist number] 42.
[1av]
[many small ink marks]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 5 December, 2025