Description

LICHFIELD

SK1109NW BEACON STREET
1094-1/4/18 (North East side)
05/02/52 Darwin House

GV I

House. c1758, converted from medieval timber-framed range on
the west side of the south court of Vicars' Close. For Erasmus
Darwin.
Brick with stucco dressings; double-span tile roof with brick
end stacks.
Double-depth, central staircase plan. Georgian style.
2 storeys with basement; symmetrical 3-window range. Stucco
basement; 2 sill bands; top modillioned cornice and
stone-coped brick parapet with 2 balustraded panels.
Centre breaks forward under pediment. Round-headed entrance
has Tuscan aedicule, round-headed half-glazed door; opposed
ashlar steps with iron handrail and arch below. Venetian
windows to each floor have Tuscan antae, entablatures,
archivolts and sashes with glazing bars; central 1st floor
window has eared architrave, triple key and 9-pane sash.
Rear has rounded-headed stair window with sash, flanking
windows with rubbed brick flat arches and 12-pane sashes; 3
windows above, 2 with 6-pane sashes, one blocked; coped gables
and cross-axial stack.
Erasmus Darwin, 1731-1802, lived here until c1781. He was a
doctor and a member of the Lunar Society whose researches into
botany and zoology led him to explore a theory of evolution.
He was grandfather of Charles Darwin.
(Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London:
1974-: P.192-3; Victoria History of the County of Stafford:
Greenslade M W: Lichfield: Oxford: 1990-: P.64; Lichfield
Council: Erasmus Darwin).

Listing NGR: SK1141209705

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Erasmus Darwin House at Wikipedia
• Erasmus Darwin House official website
• Wikidata Q5384953

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments