Erasmus Darwin House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erasmus Darwin House |
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Front of the house
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| General information | |
| Address | Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°41′7.25″N 1°49′59.25″W / 52.6853472°N 1.8331250°W |
Erasmus Darwin House is located in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. This historic building was once the home of Erasmus Darwin. He was a famous English doctor and poet. He was also the grandfather of Charles Darwin, who developed the theory of evolution.
Today, Erasmus Darwin House is a special museum. It celebrates Erasmus Darwin's life and work. The house is a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical site.
Erasmus Darwin was a very busy person. He was a doctor, scientist, inventor, and poet. He also cared a lot about education. He lived in this house from 1758 to 1781. He was a key member of the Lunar Society. This was a group of important thinkers and scientists. Many famous people visited him here. These visitors included Josiah Wedgwood, Matthew Boulton, Benjamin Franklin, and James Watt.
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History of the House
In 1758, Erasmus Darwin bought an old medieval house. It was a half-timbered building. He spent a year changing it into a big, fancy Georgian-style home. This house was made of red brick with special decorations.
Back then, a narrow, deep ditch separated the front of the house from Beacon Street. This ditch was once a moat for the Cathedral Close. Darwin built a bridge over this ditch. It went from his front door right to the street. He also cleared the overgrown ditch. He made a nice terrace on the bank. He planted lilacs and rose bushes there. These plants helped to hide his terrace from people walking by. After Darwin moved out in 1781, the next owner filled in the ditch. This created a driveway from the street to the house.
Erasmus Darwin's Life in Lichfield
After the Darwin family moved into their newly updated house, a wooden bridge was built. A two-level terrace was also added. This meant some changes were made to the basement windows.
For 20 years, this house was the center of Darwin's life. He ran his medical practice from here. He also did many scientific experiments. The Lunar Society held meetings in the house. Darwin also worked on big projects here. One example was the building of the Trent and Mersey Canal. Even with all this busy work, the house was also a loving family home.
Fun Events and Exhibits
Erasmus Darwin House has exciting things to see and do. They recently updated two exhibition rooms. These rooms now have cool audio and visual displays.
The house also takes part in local events. It's involved in the Lichfield festival. Every year, it joins the medieval market.
During Heritage Weekend, the museum is free to visit. You can also take special tours of the cellar.
Halloween is a very popular time at the house. They host a 'Haunted House Night'. This event includes:
- Spooky storytelling
- Classic apple bobbing
- Fun games
- Creative facepainting
- Arts and crafts
- A 'freeky' food and drink stall
Cellar tours for Halloween must be booked in advance.
The 'Erasmus Study' Exhibition Room has been updated. It now features a computer microscope. There are also touch screen games and quizzes. The parlour room has comfy armchairs with headphones. You can listen to Erasmus Darwin's poetry. You can also hear a conversation between him and Anna Seward. This conversation happened after his first wife passed away.
The parlour room has been beautifully restored. It now has an old grandfather clock. In this room, you can relax in armchairs. Use the headphones to listen to Erasmus Darwin's poems. You can also hear his ideas about evolution.
The house also has a beautiful Georgian herb garden. It has been carefully replanted with plants from that time. The garden features a sculpture of Erasmus Darwin. There are also special paving slabs. These slabs have text carved into them. They lead to the house and were created by Denis Alva Parsons.
A fun activity for visitors is the 'Erasmouse Hunt'. You search for little 'mice' hidden around the house. Winners get their own woolly 'Erasmouse'. Even some adults enjoy this hunt!
The Museum Today
Erasmus Darwin House is run by a charity. It depends on donations from the public.
The museum has a gift shop. You can buy a variety of gifts and books there.
The cellar is usually open for visitors. You can take a guided tour on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
Erasmus Darwin House can also be rented for events. It's a great place for conferences, parties, and weddings. There are three rooms available to hire. The largest is the Seminar Room. It can hold up to 36 people. The Exhibition Room can fit up to 20 people. The Library is perfect for smaller meetings and interviews.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Staffordshire
- Listed buildings in Lichfield
