Downe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Downe
George and Dragon public house, Downe
Downe
OS grid reference	TQ435615
London borough	Bromley
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ORPINGTON
Postcode district	BR6
Dialling code	01689
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Orpington
London Assembly	Bexley and Bromley
List of places UK England London 51°20′09″N 0°03′13″E / 51.3359°N 0.0535°E / 51.3359; 0.0535

The medieval Church of Saint Mary in Downe

Downe, once called Down, is a small village in Greater London, England. It's part of the London Borough of Bromley. Until 1965, it was part of Kent county. Downe is famous because Charles Darwin, a very important scientist, lived here for 40 years until he passed away in 1882.

The village is about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) southwest of Orpington. It sits on a low ridge, which is a small hill. The name Downe comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word, dūn, which means 'hill'. This is also where the names for the South and North Downs come from.

In April 1965, Downe became part of the new London Borough of Bromley. This meant it moved from Kent into Greater London.

Downe's Past

Downe has a long history. In the past, the spelling of the village name changed a lot. Before the 1870s, it was usually spelled "Down". After that, "Downe" became the common way to spell it.

Charles Darwin's Home

Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist who developed the theory of evolution, lived in Down House in Downe. He lived there for 40 years, from 1842 until his death in 1882.

Darwin had a close friend and colleague named John Lubbock, who lived nearby. One of Darwin's favorite places was Downe Bank. Today, Downe Bank is a special nature reserve. Several members of Darwin's family are buried in the graveyard of St Mary's Church in Downe.

Down House and the area around it were suggested to become a World Heritage Site. This would mean it's a very important place globally, but the decision has not been made yet.

Buckston Browne Farm

Buckston Browne Farm

Downe is also home to Buckston Browne Farm. This farm was built in 1931 by the Royal College of Surgeons to be a center for medical research. The farm has since been changed into four houses.

Scouting Adventures

If you like outdoor activities, Downe has two scout campsites:

• The Downe Scout Activity Centre is just outside the village. It has 86 acres (35 hectares) of woodland and open fields.
• The Greenwich District campsite is also nearby.

Getting Around Downe

The closest train stations to Downe are at Orpington and Hayes. They are about 4.5 to 4.7 miles away.

The village has London Buses routes 146 and R8. These buses can take you to places like Bromley, Orpington, and Biggin Hill.

Famous People from Downe

Many interesting people have lived in Downe:

• Charles Darwin (1809–1882), a biologist and naturalist known for his work on evolution.
• Horace Darwin (1851–1928), Charles Darwin's son, who was an engineer.
• Nigel Farage (born 1964), a well-known politician.
• Charles Hayes (1678–1760), a mathematician.
• John Lubbock (1834–1913), a banker, biologist, and politician.
• Olive Willis (1877–1964), who founded Downe House School.

Nearby Places

Here are some other places close to Downe:

• Cudham
• Berry's Green
• Luxted
• Single Street
• Farnborough
• Keston
• Orpington