Darwin home up for heritage site [UN's World Heritage program]

BBC News ^ | 12 January 2006 | Staff

[PatrickHenry]

Charles Darwin's former home in Bromley, south-east London, has been nominated as a World Heritage Site. Down House at Downe was Darwin's home for 40 years and where he developed his revolutionary theory of evolution. The property also includes the scientist's experimental garden where he studied plants and animals.

Announcing the UK's 2006 nomination, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "Darwin was one of the greatest scientists of the modern age."

'Scientific discovery'

Darwin moved to Down House in 1842 following his epic round-the-world trip in the 1830s, which included a visit to the Galapagos islands.

Darwin completed some of his most celebrated work at Down House

The property, now managed by English Heritage, was where Darwin completed his famous work The Origin of Species and a number of follow-up studies.

The Origin of Species, which outlines Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, is now recognised as one of the most influential books of all time and one which transformed scientific and wider public thinking about natural life and humans' place in the natural world.

While World Heritage Sites are usually associated with cultural landmarks like Stonehenge, Ms Jowell said it was also essential to acknowledge scientific discovery.

The World Heritage Centre in Paris will consider the nomination and announce its decision in the summer of 2007.

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[Added by PH:]
This "World Heritage" stuff is run by UNESCO, so this wouldn't be a step forward for Darwin's house: World Heritage. If you click on the tab that gives you the list of heritage sites, and scroll way down, the US sites include the Statue of Liberty and Monticello. [Black helicopter alert!]

[PatrickHenry]

Down House at Downe -- gotta love the way the Britts do certain things.

[PatrickHenry]

Evolution Ping The List-O-Links

A conservative, pro-evolution science list, now with over 340 names. See the list's explanation, then FReepmail to be added or dropped. To assist beginners: But it's "just a theory", Evo-Troll's Toolkit, and How to argue against a scientific theory.

[FostersExport]

This is quite a funny nomination given the other things on the World Heritage list for the UK. Completely out of place but never mind.

Btw, “Down House at Downe” is a good address, but can’t beat The (old) Duke of Wellington’s, which was No. 1 London.

[MHalblaub]

Here are some more nice pictures of the house "our religious founder" to find.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.102

[PatrickHenry]

“Down House at Downe” is a good address, but can’t beat The (old) Duke of Wellington’s, which was No. 1 London.

Only one thing tops the Iron Duke's address: Darwin Central.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Virginia-American]

He's buried in Westminster Abbey, near Newton and Lord Kelvin.

[shuckmaster]

Nice looking house. I vote we put Darwin on the $10 bill.

[VadeRetro]

I suppose it would do for a summer cabin, that sort of thing.

[stanz]

Aside from Darwin's study which alone was worth the visit, the "Sand Walk" was lovely. It is said that it was while walking the grounds and gardens back of Down House that he was able to elaborate on some of his early writing. It was a Heritage landmark last summer.

[Dimensio]

In which room did lay on his deathbed while rejecting evolution?

(For some reason that's the only thing that came to mind right now)

[jennyp]

In which room did lay on his deathbed while rejecting evolution?

The one on the 4th floor.

[Bars4Bill]

The property also includes the scientist's experimental garden where he studied plants and animals.

Oh, to walk in the footsteps of such a giant!

[MHalblaub]

"In which room did lay on his deathbed while rejecting evolution?"

Darwin never died. He directly ascended to the spaghetti heaven and sits right to It. Because Darwin was the first to detect how His holly FSM let the things go on after He was bored.