Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 1491266
Hob Uid: 1491266
Location : Greater London Authority Camden Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TQ2959182160
Summary : The site of 12 Upper Gower Street where Charles Darwin lived between the end of 1838 and 1842. The house was damaged in the Second World War and the site was rebuilt on and became the Biological Sciences Building of University College London. A modern block, fittingly called the Darwin Building, now stands on the site and which houses the University's Grant museum (1995-1997 ).Upper Gower Street was the first home of Charles Darwin and his wife Emma Wedgwood. Darwin moved in on 31st December 1838 and Emma joined him after their wedding at the end of January 1839. They called the house Macaw Cottage after its gaudy decoration and their two eldest children were born there. In September 1842 they moved out to take up residence in Down House. There is a blue plaque commemorating Darwin on the modern Darwin Building.
More information : Number 12 Upper Gower Street (later 110 Gower Street) was the first marital home of Charles Darwin and Emma Wedgwood after their marriage in 1539. Charles Darwin moved in on 31st December 1838 and the couple called it Macaw Cottage after its gaudy colours and decoration. Their eldest two children, William Erasmus and Anne Elizabeth, were born there. The Darwins moved in September 1842 to Down House. The house was bombed in 1941 and demolished and the site is now part of the Department of Biology, University College London. Darwin's Macaw Cottage is now a modern block called the Darwin Building. The Darwin Building which houses the Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy has a blue plaque commemorating Charles Darwin. (1) DARWIN, Charles (1809-1882), Naturalist, lived in a house on this site 1838-1842. Biological Sciences Building, University College, (site of 110) Gower Street, WC1 Camden 1961 (2) National Grid Reference TQ2959182160 (centroid of the object) identified by digital ordnance survey mapping. (3)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : Darwin 200. 2009. London locations linked to Darwin, [Accessed 27-FEB-2009]
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : English Heritage. 2009. Search Blue Plaques, [Accessed 27-FEB-2009]
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : 1:1250, 2007
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Occupied 19th C
Monument End Date : 1899
Monument Start Date : 1800
Monument Type : House
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Victorian
Display Date : Darwin occupied 1838-1842
Monument End Date : 1842
Monument Start Date : 1838
Monument Type : House, Historical Site
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Rebuilt post 1945
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date : 1945
Monument Type : University, Faculty Building
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Erected 1961
Monument End Date : 1961
Monument Start Date : 1961
Monument Type : Plaque, Commemorative Monument
Evidence : Extant Structure

Monument Period Name : Second World War
Display Date : Damaged 1941
Monument End Date : 1941
Monument Start Date : 1941
Monument Type : House
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Late 20th Century
Display Date : Change in function 1995-7
Monument End Date : 1997
Monument Start Date : 1995
Monument Type : University, Museum
Evidence : Extant Building

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Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TQ 28 SE 863
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Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 1491266