please empty your brain below
Is this the same Sir David Attenborough who berates the fact that Alfred Russel Wallace is forgotten and every one keeps reminding us only of Darwin?

By the way, funny but supportive Bill Bailey unveiling a statue to Wallace video on YouTube.

Pedantic of Purley | 17.05.18 - 7:27 a.m. | #

A great read, thank you.

Waterhouse | 17.05.18 - 7:48 a.m. | #

When I visited I found it much more interesting than I anticipated. Well worth a visit. Obviously better to go at off peak times as car park gets full and it is nicer to have the walk to yourself so you appreciate it as a solo walk.

Brian | 17.05.18 - 7:54 a.m. | #

Down house is now top of the list for my next visit to the UK, sorry bus stop M.

YDU | 17.05.18 - 8:03 a.m. | #

I went there in August 2000 with a coach party of Creation, and not evolution, believing scientists. Heated discussions soon took place!.
I seem to recall that the house was not very busy and that from your photos it has been improved since my visit.

John | 17.05.18 - 8:28 a.m. | #

Bet the 'e' was added by estate agents.

Andrew Marr is an odd choice to narrate the garden area, he doesn't usually pop up on TV demanding answers from Daffodils.

Still Anon | 17.05.18 - 9:13 a.m. | #

John, I seriously doubt you could find enough creationist scientists to fill a coach.

Steve | 17.05.18 - 9:19 a.m. | #

Still anon,

Bet not. Bet it was demanded by Royal Mail in Victorian times. There were too many problems of mis-addressing and confusing place names with the same spelling in many different places.

For example, there used to be loads of towns or other settlements called Newbridge but an edict was issued that they had to change there name. I suspect Bromley-by-Bow had its '-by-Bow' added around this time.

Pedantic of Purley | 17.05.18 - 9:58 a.m. | #

Welcome back to inside the M25!

BTW: 146 bus slightly more regular but doesn't go quite to the front-door.

However on the way home it does have the advantage of starting outside two pubs in Downe village!

Southern Heights (Light Railway) | 17.05.18 - 10:37 a.m. | #

I should mention that the interior of the house is a recreation, because between 1907 and 1922 Downe House became a girls' school (which then moved to Berkshire, and is where Clare Balding and Kate Middleton were educated).

diamond geezer | Homepage | 17.05.18 - 10:39 a.m. | #

If I remember correctly, didn't you also visit last autumn - for the leaf colour, and say then that it was somewhere you'd like to visit in the spring as well?

dg writes: Yup.

Thanks for reminding me. Seriously tempted to go today seeing as the weather is lovely ...

Cornish Cockney | 17.05.18 - 10:40 a.m. | #

judging from your list of English Heritage places, you've bought EH annual membership and you're out to get your moneys-worth

Caz | 17.05.18 - 10:51 a.m. | #

Steve, the coach was full as the scientists were attending a weeks International conference at Portsmouth University so were from all over the world. -mainly USA.

I just looked at a photo I took of the house back in 2000 and compared to dg's the garden is just plain lawn, no flowers and no climbing plants on the house walls. Also no people on the lawn despite it being a sunny day in August.
Looks as if English heritage have done a good job restoring and advertising the house.

John | 17.05.18 - 12:18 p.m. | #

@John

We brew up a big pot of crazy over here in the States. I hope they kept their insanity to a minimum. If you ever encounter their kind again, smile and walk on knowing they're a minority annoyance over here.

steven | Homepage | 17.05.18 - 5:31 p.m. | #

The EH card is good value, but for some London-only people an Art Fund card might work out better. Even if you aren't keen on exhibitions (it tends to be 50 per cent off at all the big museums/galleries) it gives you free entry to Apsley House, Foundling Museum, Kensington Palace, Keats House, among others - and it's especially good value at the moment because as part of Museum of the Year, it includes free entry to the Postal Museum (have to fork out an extra six sheets for the Mail Rail though) and Brooklands.

GJ | 17.05.18 - 6:42 p.m. | #

Acted on the impulse and did visit this afternoon.
It was every bit as gorgeous as you said!

Cornish Cockney | 17.05.18 - 8:17 p.m. | #

So there's now two reasons why you can't hand over a small portrait of Darwin to gain entry and get some change.

martin | 18.05.18 - 6:27 a.m. | #











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