Shrewsbury – the birth place of Charles Darwin

This trip has provided us with an opportunity to learn and enhance our understanding of a number of public figures; Charles Darwin is one of these.

Darwin was born and educated in Shrewsbury, a medieval market town filled with historic buildings. These include the old school house that Darwin attended which is now the city library.

The wood panelled interior walls still bear the graffiti from students of his era.

A statue of Darwin is in the garden at the entrance to the library.

Darwin studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh where amongst other things he learnt the art of taxidermy. He didn't finish his medical studies, but leveraged and used what he learnt during his expeditions. His interest in natural science and in particular marine invertebrates and geology was fostered at Cambridge University.

Further along the River Severn in Shrewsbury there is a 12m high and 17m long concrete sculpture based on a double helix shape. The sculpture is titled: Quantum Leap and is dedicated to Darwin. It is beautiful.

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