The Sand Walk, Down House

Darwin's 'Sand-walk' or 'thinking path'; was created in 1846 when a 0.6ha area of land was fenced off and planted out with native trees and a circular path dressed with sandy gravel around the edge. Darwin would take his daily constitutional and walk a number of times around the sand-walk counting the laps with flints piled at the beginning of the circuit. It was strolling around this path where he did most of his thinking.

Downe Greater London

This image is available to purchase and is part of our Downe Stock Photos Collection.