The Old Study, Down House, Downe, Greater London
The Old Study at Down House. One of the things that most attracted Darwin to Down House was the room he described as the ‘capital study’, which became the centre of his daily routine. The room appears unremarkable, square and rather small but, being on the north side, it is disturbed by only an hour or two of direct sunshine in the early morning and, with its tall windows further shielded by wooden shutters, provided the perfect cold-light conditions that Darwin found best for undertaking detailed scientific work. This property is now in the care of English Heritage (2011).
