main content Darwin comes to Market Square

A three-storey mural of Charles Darwin in Market Square, Bromley, has been unveiled. The mural serves as a reminder that Darwin lived and worked in the Borough and ties in with the UK’s 2006 World Heritage proposal for Downe, as well as Darwin’s bicentenary in 2009 and the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘The Origin of Species’. The Darwin mural replaces the previous mural, which had to be replaced as the wall needed re-rendering.

“Darwin’s work is recognised internationally and this is an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate his work, which is an important part of our heritage. We are very proud to have Darwin’s home and neighbourhood on our doorstep and the mural highlights this fact” said Councillor George Taylor, Executive Councillor for the Environment.

Charles Darwin’s work has influenced our understanding of the natural world. Using wildlife observations and experiments in the grounds of Down House and the surrounding countryside, Darwin recognised that evolution by natural selection is key to our understanding of the living world. Darwin’s theory of evolution has withstood the test of time and thousands of scientific experiments.

The mural was designed and painted by local artist Bruce Williams. It was developed by Bromley Council using images adapted from publications about Charles Darwin, books and websites. It has been painted with special paints and UV filter glaze, which will ensure that the illustration lasts without fading for a long time. William Darwin, direct descendant of Charles Darwin said: “Charles Darwin was a frequent visitor to Bromley, notably to use the local chemists. The mural is particularly significant because of Darwin's association with the local community. He would be delighted by this tribute”.

Several significant themes are represented in the illustration; Down House, where Darwin lived and developed his famous theories; the 'Beagle' ship, which Darwin used to undertake his global voyage including to the Galapagos Islands; the variety of flowers, which represent the ‘entangled bank’ that was written about in ‘The Origin of Species’, and the evolution from man to ape, as Darwin believed that man and apes had a common ancestor. By studying fruit and vegetables, Darwin also established that if domestic selection could create such variety, then natural selection would be able to produce even greater results over a much longer period of time. The mural depicts this fact by showing the transition from a wild boar to the farmed pig.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• The World Heritage (WH) Convention (adopted by UNESCO in 1972) was ratified by the United Kingdom (UK) in 1984. The Convention provides for the identification, protection, conservation and presentation of cultural and natural sites of outstanding universal value, and requires a WH List to be established under the management of an inter-governmental WH Committee. To qualify for WH status, a site must be of outstanding universal value, which is tested against criteria.
• Darwin at Downe was put on a tentative list of World Heritage Sites in 1999. DCMS suggested that it be submitted to UNESCO in 2007 as the UK’s nomination for that year. However, this has now been brought forward to 2006. The submission process involves the preparation of a Nomination Document, which is being undertaken by Bromley Council, supported by a core group of organisations. UNESCO also now requires that Management Plans be produced for each site, to bring together all responsible parties in order to ensure a co-ordinated approach to management. Both the Nomination Document and the Management Plan were available for public consultation in summer 2005 and will be sent to DCMS in December. They will then submit the final bid to The World Heritage Committee in Paris by 1st February 2007. The Committee will make a decision on inscription by July 2007.

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor on 020 8461 7670 or Peter Martin, Head of Heritage and Urban Design on 020 8313 4548 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk.