Erasmus Darwin House
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Tuesday: 11:00 - 17:00
Wednesday: 11:00 - 17:00
Thursday: 11:00 - 17:00
Friday: 11:00 - 17:00
Saturday: 11:00 - 17:00
Sunday: 11:00 - 17:00
About Erasmus Darwin House
A beautiful historic Georgian town house and previous home of Dr Erasmus Darwin, polymath and grandfather to Charles Darwin. Due to the guidelines on Covid 19 the museum is closed until further notice.
Erasmus Darwin House Description
Nestled in Lichfield’s idyllic Cathedral Close, Darwin House is an independent, accredited Museum that was once the family home of doctor, inventor and published poet Erasmus Darwin (1731 – 1802). With its unique place in Georgian history Darwin House showcases the breadth of Erasmus Darwin’s interests and achievements which laid the foundations for his grandson and evolutionary biologist Charles.
Ponder in the room where leading Midland industrialists and thinkers were thought to have gathered and shared ground-breaking ideas. Discover the herbs in our tranquil garden used to season Mrs Darwin’s cooking. Learn about the medicinal qualities of plants with which Erasmus treated his patients (often free of charge! ). Look through his personal journal to get a sense of his original mind and uncover what inspired his many theories and inventions including a flushing toilet and a speaking machine to name a few. Explore Darwin’s work through interactive exhibits, replica costumes and historical objects. Come as many times as you like, there’s always more to know about the Amazing Dr Darwin.
ENTRY IS FREE
Reviews
Object of the Month: Bottle of Beer We know very little about this object apart from that it was brewed to commemorate Darwin’s christening in 1732 and has never been opened. It was donated to the House from a family descendant prior to the opening of the museum in 1999 and is currently located in the Inventions Room. Learn more on our website http://ow.ly/TOqh30l1wUh
Erasmus Darwin House - Dr D's Science Club - Dr D’s Science Club Science Club for children aged 7-11
Programme 2018 to 2019 now available on the website
... https://mailchi.mp/…/erasmus-darwin-hou se-dr-ds-science-club
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Fascinating tour of the herb garden, with stories of the ‘Fashions and Passions’ of the 18th century garden, namely gin, opium, snuff and, more seriously, the drug Digitalis from foxgloves. Booking recommended
Free children's drop in paper craft session at Erasmus Darwin House on Wednesday 22 August 2-4pm.
Erasmus Darwin House announces the launch of the Anna Seward Sewing Group. Did you know that Anna Seward made all her own clothes. As a tribute to the 'Swan of Lichfield' we are relaunching our sewing bee as the Anna Seward Sewing Group. We are looking for volunteers who like to help create and repair our beautiful Georgian costumes. The friendly group meet once a month and we supply all the materials (and of course tea/coffee and biscuits). To meet the team and find out more please call in on Thursday 20 September between 11am and 3pm.
Free paper craft activities for children today at Erasmus Darwin House today. 2-4pm
Come and hear about popular remedies, professional rivalry and downright dangerous ideas which can all be found here! £2pp Booking recommended
Come and hear about popular remedies, professional rivalry and downright dangerous ideas which can all be found here! £2 per person Booking remommended 01543 306260
See part of the house that is not normally open to the public on our popular cellar tour.
Paper crafts for children tomorrow 2-4pm. And the usual mouse and garden trails will be available (50p each)
Drop in paper crafts for children at Erasmus Darwin House 8 August 2018 2-4pm Free entry, but a small charge for some activities
We will have free drop in sea themed children's craft activities in the house today from 2-4pm. Paint a salt dough shape (whilst stocks last), make a bendable fish, word searches and puzzles available. The usual Erasmouse and Garden Trails will also be available for a small charge.
Object of the Month: Erasmus might have had one of these collectors cabinets in order to store and display his fossils. This is a very simple example of a wooden cabinet purchased by the museum in 2009 for permanent display in the Study tableau. Unfortunately, we have little background to this item. It has two lockable doors which enclose 11 wooden drawers. The contents of the cabinet were included and feature mostly a variety of shells on cotton wool.
See our website for other information http://ow.ly/Ipmd30l1uSk
We have managed to get power and will open 2pm-5pm today (31st July), however, we still have no lift and there are two floors to the museum, but we are trying to get this problem rectified. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
We visited here yesterday having discovered that entry was free. We had a lovely time, lots to see and plenty of interactive exhibits. There's a craft table in one of the rooms, and the opportunity to dress up if you wish too. Definitely worth a visit, its a proper gem! We hope to go back soon!!
Visited here yesterday with my sister & our children
(2 & 8yr olds) Its FREE entry so please support them with a gift aided donation to help the continue their fine work. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the exhibits , the fabulous hands on things for children to do (free craft projects that the team has clearly spent time resourcing) & the lovely staff who were amazing.
I learnt so much & we will be back ... thankyou !!
Very very good session. All staff were extremely helpful and made the kids experience a really happy one:)) can’t wait for the next one:)))
This place is brilliant educational exhibition for everyone ..... And staff is friendly and fabulous
Thank you to Tony for an excellent guided tour as part of our company away day. We were all amazed at the influential people that visited Erasmus Darwin and at the range of his work. A great place to visit
On behalf of 4th Lichfield Guides thank you very much for a wonderful evening in November. The girls (and leaders) thoroughly enjoyed it, the cellar tour went down very well as did interacting with the inventions and experiments. I would definitely recommend to other groups �
My wife & I visited again today (5/5/18)...and had our first cellar tour!...guided by staff volunteer Paul. He did a wonderful job and was very informative and engaging about the history of the building and surrounding attributes. Bravo! Erasmus Darwin's home is a fascinating walk through his life, contributions to science and history. A friendly, pleasant place to visit at ones leisure. Cheers all!
Me and my husband have brought our 3 children here a couple of times we love it very educational
I volunteer at Erasmus Darwin House. It is an amazing place, very friendly volunteers and staff, and the museum is very friendly and also very good for children.
Erasmus Darwin was an amazing person. Grandfather to Charles Darwin and also grandfather to evolution theories. He was a very highly regarded physician, and was asked to be the George III's personal physician but declined it. He was also a highly regarded poet, and a founder member of the Lunar Society, together with Josiah Wedgwood, Matthew Boulton and James Watt.
The house is very interesting, with 13th century cellars and a part of the Cathedral Close 12th Century wall in the cellar.
The house has a beautiful herb garden too.
A really interesting, relaxing place to visit.
I held my wedding at Erasmus Darwin House on Bank Holiday Sunday 6th May 2018. Wow. Absolutely amazing hosts and organisation. We also had beautiful weather which meant we could have canapés and champagne in the gardens. The ceremony room was decorated beautifully and everyone was so friendly. A perfect venue for a wedding, a hidden gem � thanks all. ����
Greeted by two lovely ladies who gave us a bit of a run down on Erasmus Darwin. Found everything really interesting and informative and loved the dressing up area for the little and big kids � Would recommend visiting if you're in Lichfield.
Friendly staff, interesting and unique events not to be missed and a wonderfully quaint slice of Lichfield. You can even host a wedding � there or a conference or meeting!
Fascinating place. Staff helpful and enthusiastic. Well worth a visit
Beautiful, quaint, educational and fun. A lovely place to visit in a lovely town. And the herb garden is a treat. Even the bees appear a tad 'mellow' ;)
Beautiful and unique venue for any event. Plenty to see for those interested in history and medicine.
Very caring staff who go out of their way to make the customer feel welcome.
A wonderful welcoming atmosphere, lots to look at and learn from. Run by dedicated volunteers. Well worth a visit and it's free
A most interesting insight into the life of this 18th-century polymath, in the house he actually lived in for 25 years. A very good introductory film plays on a loop and there are many interesting displays and exhibits.
A fascinating insight into a great mind which almost foresaw the future......just as you would read an interesting book twice in order to extract it's full content the Erasmus Darwin house deserve s a second visit to thoroughly absorb what it has to offer.........great video by Adam Hart Davis.
Well worth a visit good fun in the invention room and loved the dressing up area and craft table especially enjoyed by my granddaughter would recommend to anyone visiting Lichfield!
We visited here yesterday having discovered that entry was free. We had a lovely time, lots to see and plenty of interactive exhibits. There's a craft table in one of the rooms, and the opportunity to dress up if you wish too. Definitely worth a visit, its a proper gem! We hope to go back soon!!
Visited here yesterday with my sister & our children
(2 & 8yr olds) Its FREE entry so please support them with a gift aided donation to help the continue their fine work. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the exhibits , the fabulous hands on things for children to do (free craft projects that the team has clearly spent time resourcing) & the lovely staff who were amazing.
I learnt so much & we will be back ... thankyou !!
Very very good session. All staff were extremely helpful and made the kids experience a really happy one:)) can’t wait for the next one:)))
This place is brilliant educational exhibition for everyone ..... And staff is friendly and fabulous
Thank you to Tony for an excellent guided tour as part of our company away day. We were all amazed at the influential people that visited Erasmus Darwin and at the range of his work. A great place to visit
On behalf of 4th Lichfield Guides thank you very much for a wonderful evening in November. The girls (and leaders) thoroughly enjoyed it, the cellar tour went down very well as did interacting with the inventions and experiments. I would definitely recommend to other groups �
My wife & I visited again today (5/5/18)...and had our first cellar tour!...guided by staff volunteer Paul. He did a wonderful job and was very informative and engaging about the history of the building and surrounding attributes. Bravo! Erasmus Darwin's home is a fascinating walk through his life, contributions to science and history. A friendly, pleasant place to visit at ones leisure. Cheers all!
Me and my husband have brought our 3 children here a couple of times we love it very educational
I volunteer at Erasmus Darwin House. It is an amazing place, very friendly volunteers and staff, and the museum is very friendly and also very good for children.
Erasmus Darwin was an amazing person. Grandfather to Charles Darwin and also grandfather to evolution theories. He was a very highly regarded physician, and was asked to be the George III's personal physician but declined it. He was also a highly regarded poet, and a founder member of the Lunar Society, together with Josiah Wedgwood, Matthew Boulton and James Watt.
The house is very interesting, with 13th century cellars and a part of the Cathedral Close 12th Century wall in the cellar.
The house has a beautiful herb garden too.
A really interesting, relaxing place to visit.
I held my wedding at Erasmus Darwin House on Bank Holiday Sunday 6th May 2018. Wow. Absolutely amazing hosts and organisation. We also had beautiful weather which meant we could have canapés and champagne in the gardens. The ceremony room was decorated beautifully and everyone was so friendly. A perfect venue for a wedding, a hidden gem � thanks all. ����
Greeted by two lovely ladies who gave us a bit of a run down on Erasmus Darwin. Found everything really interesting and informative and loved the dressing up area for the little and big kids � Would recommend visiting if you're in Lichfield.
Friendly staff, interesting and unique events not to be missed and a wonderfully quaint slice of Lichfield. You can even host a wedding � there or a conference or meeting!
Fascinating place. Staff helpful and enthusiastic. Well worth a visit
Beautiful, quaint, educational and fun. A lovely place to visit in a lovely town. And the herb garden is a treat. Even the bees appear a tad 'mellow' ;)
Beautiful and unique venue for any event. Plenty to see for those interested in history and medicine.
Very caring staff who go out of their way to make the customer feel welcome.
A wonderful welcoming atmosphere, lots to look at and learn from. Run by dedicated volunteers. Well worth a visit and it's free
A most interesting insight into the life of this 18th-century polymath, in the house he actually lived in for 25 years. A very good introductory film plays on a loop and there are many interesting displays and exhibits.
A fascinating insight into a great mind which almost foresaw the future......just as you would read an interesting book twice in order to extract it's full content the Erasmus Darwin house deserve s a second visit to thoroughly absorb what it has to offer.........great video by Adam Hart Davis.
Well worth a visit good fun in the invention room and loved the dressing up area and craft table especially enjoyed by my granddaughter would recommend to anyone visiting Lichfield!
We visited here yesterday having discovered that entry was free. We had a lovely time, lots to see and plenty of interactive exhibits. There's a craft table in one of the rooms, and the opportunity to dress up if you wish too. Definitely worth a visit, its a proper gem! We hope to go back soon!!
Visited here yesterday with my sister & our children
(2 & 8yr olds) Its FREE entry so please support them with a gift aided donation to help the continue their fine work. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the exhibits , the fabulous hands on things for children to do (free craft projects that the team has clearly spent time resourcing) & the lovely staff who were amazing.
I learnt so much & we will be back ... thankyou !!
Very very good session. All staff were extremely helpful and made the kids experience a really happy one:)) can’t wait for the next one:)))
This place is brilliant educational exhibition for everyone ..... And staff is friendly and fabulous
Thank you to Tony for an excellent guided tour as part of our company away day. We were all amazed at the influential people that visited Erasmus Darwin and at the range of his work. A great place to visit
On behalf of 4th Lichfield Guides thank you very much for a wonderful evening in November. The girls (and leaders) thoroughly enjoyed it, the cellar tour went down very well as did interacting with the inventions and experiments. I would definitely recommend to other groups �
My wife & I visited again today (5/5/18)...and had our first cellar tour!...guided by staff volunteer Paul. He did a wonderful job and was very informative and engaging about the history of the building and surrounding attributes. Bravo! Erasmus Darwin's home is a fascinating walk through his life, contributions to science and history. A friendly, pleasant place to visit at ones leisure. Cheers all!
Me and my husband have brought our 3 children here a couple of times we love it very educational
I volunteer at Erasmus Darwin House. It is an amazing place, very friendly volunteers and staff, and the museum is very friendly and also very good for children.
Erasmus Darwin was an amazing person. Grandfather to Charles Darwin and also grandfather to evolution theories. He was a very highly regarded physician, and was asked to be the George III's personal physician but declined it. He was also a highly regarded poet, and a founder member of the Lunar Society, together with Josiah Wedgwood, Matthew Boulton and James Watt.
The house is very interesting, with 13th century cellars and a part of the Cathedral Close 12th Century wall in the cellar.
The house has a beautiful herb garden too.
A really interesting, relaxing place to visit.
I held my wedding at Erasmus Darwin House on Bank Holiday Sunday 6th May 2018. Wow. Absolutely amazing hosts and organisation. We also had beautiful weather which meant we could have canapés and champagne in the gardens. The ceremony room was decorated beautifully and everyone was so friendly. A perfect venue for a wedding, a hidden gem � thanks all. ����
Greeted by two lovely ladies who gave us a bit of a run down on Erasmus Darwin. Found everything really interesting and informative and loved the dressing up area for the little and big kids � Would recommend visiting if you're in Lichfield.
Friendly staff, interesting and unique events not to be missed and a wonderfully quaint slice of Lichfield. You can even host a wedding � there or a conference or meeting!
Fascinating place. Staff helpful and enthusiastic. Well worth a visit
Beautiful, quaint, educational and fun. A lovely place to visit in a lovely town. And the herb garden is a treat. Even the bees appear a tad 'mellow' ;)
Beautiful and unique venue for any event. Plenty to see for those interested in history and medicine.
Very caring staff who go out of their way to make the customer feel welcome.
A wonderful welcoming atmosphere, lots to look at and learn from. Run by dedicated volunteers. Well worth a visit and it's free
A most interesting insight into the life of this 18th-century polymath, in the house he actually lived in for 25 years. A very good introductory film plays on a loop and there are many interesting displays and exhibits.
A fascinating insight into a great mind which almost foresaw the future......just as you would read an interesting book twice in order to extract it's full content the Erasmus Darwin house deserve s a second visit to thoroughly absorb what it has to offer.........great video by Adam Hart Davis.
Well worth a visit good fun in the invention room and loved the dressing up area and craft table especially enjoyed by my granddaughter would recommend to anyone visiting Lichfield!
More about Erasmus Darwin House
Tuesday: 11:00 - 17:00
Wednesday: 11:00 - 17:00
Thursday: 11:00 - 17:00
Friday: 11:00 - 17:00
Saturday: 11:00 - 17:00
Sunday: 11:00 - 17:00