Down House
DOWN HOUSE, LUXTED ROAD, DOWNE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1038325
- Date first listed:
- 31-May-1954
- List Entry Name:
- Down House
- Statutory Address:
- DOWN HOUSE, LUXTED ROAD, DOWNE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-04-03
- Reference:
- IOE01/13817/30
- Rights:
- © Miss Patricia Philpott. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1038325
- Date first listed:
- 31-May-1954
- List Entry Name:
- Down House
- Statutory Address 1:
- DOWN HOUSE, LUXTED ROAD, DOWNE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- DOWN HOUSE, LUXTED ROAD, DOWNE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Bromley (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 43154 61150
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 10/07/2014
TQ 46 SW 12/158
DOWNE
LUXTED ROAD
Down House
(Formerly listed as Downe House)
31.5.54.
I
This house would be Grade II on architectural grounds but is Grade I for historical associations. It was occupied by Charles Darwin from 1842-1882. "The Origin of the Species" was written here, and Darwin died in the house on the 19 April 1882. It was now a museum, and Darwin's study is preserved as far as possible as it was in his day. The building consists of a centre and 2 wings. The centre dates from early C19. 3 storeys 5 windows. Stuccoed. Wide eaves cornice. Hipped slate roof. Windows with segmental heads and glazing bars missing. The South-East wing is gabled and probably older than the main block. 2 storeys of 2 windows, plus one round-headed window and also an attic window in the gable. Stuccoed front. The North-West wing is a mid-late C19 addition made by Darwin containing his new study. 2 storeys. 3 windows. Cemented front, but attached to it is an early C19 block and a verandah to the North-West added wing. Inset in the front garden wall facing the road is a tablet recording:-
"Here Darwin thought and worked for forty years and died 1882".
Listing NGR: TQ4317861121
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 358519
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 29-Jun-2026 at 04:00:13.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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