Interesting queries for Shropshire Archives
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On this page are answers to some of the topical or unusual queries we have answered recently.
I have recently watched Richard Dawkins' television series on Charles Darwin. Have you any information about Charles Darwin?
Richard Dawkins' recent television series on Channel 4 is one of the first of many programmes and events which will highlight the life of Charles Darwin in the wake of the 150th anniversary of his work ‘The Origin of Species’ and the 200th anniversary of his birth. But did you know Charles Darwin lived in Shrewsbury until the age of eighteen, and returned during vacations to spend time with his father, brothers and sisters?
His home, The Mount provided a large garden and conservatory with distinguished plants and the River Severn where he learned to fish. The conservatory, off the morning room has been described as an exotic indoor jungle. These were welcome distractions from Mr Case’s school in the town. They may have provided relief when at the age of eight his mother died and his father was said to have ruled his children with ‘orderly and correct standards’. The tense atmosphere in the household was reported by visitors.
When Charles became a day boarder at Shrewsbury School, once again the garden provided his retreat after his unhappy days. He and his brother used a garden shed as a laboratory for their chemical experiments and ‘Gas’ was for some time his nick-name at school.
Unfortunately, we do not have archival material relating to Charles Darwin's work but we do have have many books about him that can be found listed on the linked pdf. Charles Darwin archives can be accessed online at darwin-online.org.uk
