Down House

Down House is a house of early 19th-century origin, with later additions, and is designated Grade I for its historical associations; it would otherwise be Grade II on architectural grounds. The house was occupied by Charles Darwin from 1842 to 1882, and “The Origin of the Species” was written there. Darwin died in the house on 19 April 1882. It is now a museum, with Darwin’s study preserved as much as possible in its original condition.

The building comprises a central block and two wings. The central block dates from the early 19th century and is three storeys high with five windows. It is stuccoed and has a wide eaves cornice and a hipped slate roof. The windows have segmental heads and are missing their original glazing bars. The South-East wing is gabled and is likely older than the main block, featuring two storeys with two windows, a round-headed window, and an attic window in the gable. This wing is also stuccoed. The North-West wing is a mid-to-late 19th-century addition made by Darwin to provide a new study. It is two storeys high with three windows and has a cemented front. Attached to this wing is an early-19th-century block and a verandah. A tablet is set into the front garden wall facing the road, commemorating: "Here Darwin thought and worked for forty years and died 1882."