Home James

The Birthplace of Charles Darwin

Two years ago were held a celebration for the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, who was born in Shrewsbury into a famous family. Here, he was christened, educated and lived happily in a large well-off family. From Shrewsbury he went on visits to his cousins, the Wedgwoods of pottery fame, in the Quarry Gardens he went beetle hunting, and from the Lion Hotel (the main coaching centre of the town) he set out on his trips to London and Cambridge, and his famous voyage as naturalist on board of HMS Beagle. On his return, it was from Falmouth Harbour that he returned from his long voyage to Shrewsbury, arriving at his home, The Mount in time for family breakfast.

Though the Darwin Birthplace is now used as an office, the staff are most kind and helpful in showing some parts of the house; all the other sites in Shrewsbury which are associated with Darwin, The Church where he was christened, the Unitarian Chapel he attended with his mother, the beautiful, superbly maintained Quarry park by the River Severn, his famous school -- now used as the library but carefully maintained and preserving many features of the ancient schoolrooms, the Lion Hotel with its Adam Style Ballroom, open fires and historic, though now carefully refurbished, rooms, all open to visitors.

The 'Home James' transport service offers mini-bus tours to all the Darwin sites, and advance bookings at the Lion Hotel can be made for visitors coming from a distance. Mini-bus tours can also be arranged for visitors to geographical sites in Wales and on the Welsh borders near Shrewsbury where Darwin studied various interesting geological formations with one of his favourite college professors.