REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1929-30. Xvii 



Down House. 



VII. — The following report for the year 1929-30 has been received 

 from the Down House Committee : — 



The number of visitors to Down House during the year, since but excluding the 

 date of the formal opening, June 7, 1929, has been approximately 11,000, a gratifying 

 total, having regard especially to the fact that no public advertising has been 

 attempted. The South-eastern Union of Scientific Societies, and other societies, 

 have organised visits for their members, and further parties are expected durmg the 

 present summer. Among others, the Committee understand that a party from the 

 International Botanical Congress, meeting at Cambridge, may visit Down in August ; 

 the Committee have pleasure in recommending that opportunity should be taken to 

 entertain these distinguished visitors. 



Thanks have been tendered on behalf of the Committee to many generous donors 

 of objects for preservation in the Memorial Rooms, which have been much enhanced 

 thereby in appearance and interest since the opening last year. Mr. Buckston Browne 

 himself has added many appropriate gifts, including a showcase in the New Study, 

 to contain objects which could not otherwise be exhibited conveniently. 



The Old Study has appropriately the closest resemblance to its appearance in 

 Darwin's time ; the furnishing is in great part original, and some of the maps on 

 which Darwin worked in connection with the coral reef researches have been framed 

 for exhibition here. These maps were received from Cambridge through the 

 instrumentality of Prof. A. C. Seward. Mr. Buckston Browne has added much to 

 the Donor's Room, while the Old Dining Room contains the portraits and cartoons 

 which formerly were in the Council Room of the Association, and also the presidential 

 banner of the Prince of Wales, which has been framed for safe keeping. Publications 

 of the Association are shown in this room. 



The Committee were especially glad to hear of the recovery of Darwin's letters 

 to Miiller in South America, through the good offices of Prof. H. F. Osborn. Prof. 

 E. B. Poulton has kindly undertaken the study of these letters previouslj- to their 

 being deposited at Down House. 



The Forestry Commission generous!}' permitted an inspector to visit the estate 

 and advise the Secretary on the preservation of the timber. 



The gardens require extensive renovation, which is in progress. In particular, 

 the adaptation and partial concealment of the foundations of the former school 

 buildings, without undue expense, has exercised the ingenuity of the resident staff. 

 Certain gifts of plants for the gardens have been received, but more will be welcomed. 

 The staff at first included two gardeners ; a third was engaged temporarily with the 

 sanction of the Council, who desired the Committee to consider whether (having regard 

 to financial considerations) he should be permanently employed. He is still at work, 

 and at the moment the Committee can only report that there is more than ample 

 work to occupj- the three men, and that this must be so for a long period, if not 

 permanently. It would seem that to make and keep the gardens beautiful is a duty 

 ■which the Association owes both to the memory of Darwin and to the public. The 

 general financial position is referred to below. 



In connection with a town-planning scheme for the Bromley rural area, the 

 authorities proposed to provide for cutting off, in the future, the greater part of the 

 front garden, in order to obliterate a ' blind ' curve in the road. However, they 

 received a protest courteously, and proposed as an alternative that, if and when road- 

 widening should take place, the Association should undertake to lower the garden 

 wall in front of the house, the garden remaining intact, and any widening being 

 effected on the other side of the road. This was agreed. There is no immediate 

 prospect that the scheme will mature. 



The Association, following upon its incorporation in 1928, received the certificate 

 of the Registrar of Friendly Societies as a ' charitable ' society. Possessing this 

 certificate, it claimed exemption from rates upon Down House under the Act of 1843 

 dealing with the rating of societies' premises. The local assessment committee 

 contested this, and summoned the Association for non-payment. It emerged in the 

 hearing before the Bromley magistrates that the assessment committee would be 

 willing to recognise exemption except in the case of the residential premises occupied 

 by the Secretary. It was argued that his residence at Down House was a matter 

 rather of convenience than of necessity ; though he himself asserted in evidence that 



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