Life at Down House Soon after he came back to England, Darwin decided to get married, to his cousin Emma Wedgewood. In 1842 he and his young family moved out of London to the village of Downe, as the village is spelt, in Kent. Darwin lived at Down House, in Downe until he died. lt was where he did all his experiments and wrote most of his books. And it was where he lived and brought up his family too. Looking after Down House |
Charles and his eldest son William |
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Darwin's Day Like many Victorian families, the Darwins had a daily routine. Charles always got up early and went for a short walk around the garden. |
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07.45 | He ate breakfast on his own | |
08.00-09.30 | He worked in his study | |
10.30-12.00 | More work in the study | |
09.30-10.30 | He read letters, or had a book read to him by his wife | |
12.00 | Whatever the weather, Darwin always went for a walk around the Sandwalk, a path in the grounds of Down House. This was his 'thinking' time | |
13.00 | Lunch followed by reading the newspaper and replying to letters | |
15.00 | Darwin rested in his bedroom. Sometmes Emma would read to him | |
16.00-16.30 | Another short walk | |
16.30-17.30 | More work in the study | |
19.30 | Dinner.Then he played two games of backgammon with Emma, read, and listened to Emma play the piano | |
20.30 | Darwin went to bed |