Coordinates: 51°20′09″N 0°03′24″E / 51.3357°N 0.0567°E / 51.3357; 0.0567

Downe
Downe  Downe shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ435615
London borough	Bromley
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ORPINGTON
Postcode district	BR6
Dialling code	01689
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Orpington
London Assembly	Bexley and Bromley
List of places: UK • England • London

Downe is a village in the London Borough of Bromley, England.

Downe is 3.4 miles (5.5 km) south west of Orpington and 14.2 miles (22.9 km) south east of Charing Cross. Downe lies in a wooded valley, and much of the centre of the village is unchanged; the former village school now acts as the village hall.

Contents 1 Darwin 2 Buckston Browne Farm 3 Downe Activity Centre 4 Stage Door Theatre Group, Downe 5 Transport 6 Notable people 7 Nearest places 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Darwin

Charles Darwin lived in Down House for 40 years, from 1842 until he died there in 1882. A favourite place of his was Downe Bank, now a nature reserve.

Down House and the surrounding area has been nominated by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to become a World Heritage Site with the decision expected in 2010^[1].

[edit] Buckston Browne Farm

Downe is the location of Buckston Browne Farm, built in 1931 as a surgical research centre by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS). In the 1980s, the farm caused controversy because of its use of vivisection techniques, and in August 1984 it was raided by anti-vivisection activists.

The farm is currently being re-developed as a training centre.

[edit] Downe Activity Centre

The 86 acres (350,000 m²) of woodland and open fields form Downe Scout Activity Centre just outside the village.

[edit] Stage Door Theatre Group, Downe

Downe Village is also home to Stage Door Theatre Group (formerly known as the Young Downe Arounders, due to its affiliation with the Downe Arounders Dramatic Society) which presents one major production each academic year, plus other events throughout the season. The group is open to all young people between the ages of 7 and 17. It is managed by a group of adult volunteers and parents. The group was formed in December 2003 by members of the Downe Arounders, its aim is to provide for youth in the community as well as giving young people the opportunity to learn through the experience of performing arts. SDTG is a member of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association.

[edit] Transport

There are no rail links to the village, but it is served by two hourly bus routes:

• 146  Bromley – Downe
• R8   Biggin Hill - Orpington.

The nearest rail stations are:^[2]

• Orpington (5.5 mi/8.9 km; bus R8)
• Bromley South (6 mi/9.7 km; bus 146)
• Bromley North (6.5 mi/10.5 km; bus 146)

[edit] Notable people

• Charles Darwin, naturalist
• Sir John Lubbock, 3rd Baronet, banker, barrister, mathematician and astronomer
• John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury, banker, biologist, archaeologist and Liberal politician
• Olive Willis (1877–1964), founder of Downe House School

[edit] Nearest places

• Cudham
• Farnborough
• Keston
• Orpington

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Audio tour of Downe and Down House
• Downe Bank Nature Reserve
• Darwin at Downe - World Heritage Site nomination
• Homepage of Stage Door Theatre Group, Downe

v • d • e London Borough of Bromley Districts Anerley · Beckenham · Bickley · Biggin Hill · Bromley · Bromley Common · Chislehurst · Downe · Elmstead · Farnborough · Hayes · Keston · Leaves Green · Mottingham · Orpington · Penge · Petts Wood · Pratt's Bottom · Shortlands · Southborough · St Mary Cray · St Paul's Cray · West Wickham Attractions Bromley Museum · Chislehurst Caves · Churchill Theatre · Crofton Roman Villa · Crystal Palace · Down House Constituencies Beckenham · Bromley and Chislehurst · Orpington Parks and open spaces in Bromley