main content Charles Darwin coming to town

Visitors to Bromley town will have noticed that the HG Wells mural in Market Square has been removed as part of wall repairs carried out by the building owners. For those who have missed this much-loved landmark, there are plans to replace the artwork with a new design in the summer.

This is an opportunity to celebrate two of Bromley’s greatest sons. One is truly a man of the town and the other a man of the countryside. They and their work embody the range and value of Bromley’s diverse environments. The Council continues to work with local businesses to invest in projects that make our towns more attractive. It is particularly pleasurable to acknowledge Bromley residents who have become such world famous figures” said Councillor George Taylor, Executive Councillor for the Environment.

Render work needed to prevent water penetration provides an opportunity for a new mural to replace the old one, painted almost 20 years ago. The Council together with building agents have agreed to use the theme of Charles Darwin and his work studying the local Downe countryside, which helped to develop his theories of natural selection and the evolutionary process.

This is a timely opportunity to highlight Darwin and his supporter HG Wells, who appears again, as the Council is currently producing a world heritage bid document that will form the British Government’s nomination to UNESCO in 2006 to designate the countryside around Down House a World Heritage site.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

It is anticipated that work on the mural painting will commence in June.
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor, on 020 8461 7670 or Stewart Clark, Urban Designer on 020 8313 4573 or e-mail andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk.