Naturalist Charles Darwin sparked an awakening with his Origin of Species. But he also had strong links with Kent. LUCYA SZACHNOWSKI takes a look at his history in the village of Downe ...

IN 1842, the naturalist Charles Darwin decided he needed a family home away from London to carry out experiments and to write in peace and quiet.

He chose Down House, near the village of Downe, 16 miles from London.

Darwin was a respected scientist before moving to Down House.

Under Captain Robert Fitzroy, he visited Tenerife, the Cape Verde Islands, Brazil, Montevideo, Tierra del Fuego, Buenos Aires, Valparaiso, Chile, the Galapagos, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Tasmania.

During this five-year expedition on the HMS Beagle, he collected samples and obtained knowledge of fauna, flora, and geology, which prompted his investigations into evolution.

After years of travelling, he settled down and married his cousin Emma in 1839 and lived at Down House for 40 years until his death, in 1882.

At Down House he raised pigeons, studied earthworms, dissected barnacles and wrote his books on the origins on the species which provided much of our modern understanding of how nature came to be the way it is and which caused a stir in Victorian society because of its revolutionary ideas.

Darwin traveled into London for scientific meetings but he mainly kept in touch with people via letters and used something similar to the modern "home office" style of working.

He had a regular daily routine.

In the morning, he would work in his study and listen to Emma reading family letters. Before lunch he went for a walk around the "sandwalk" in his garden while thinking about his work.

From lunch until 7.30pm, he read or wrote letters, listened to Emma reading aloud, or worked in his study.

He was very much a family man and did not mind his 10 children playing or interrupting him in his study.

l Members of the public can visit Down House from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, during the winter months. Tickets cost £6 for adults, £4.50 for OAPs and students, £3 for children. English Heritage members can visit for free. For more details, call 01689 859119.

December 21, 2001 16:00