{"id":"69393a6d7202e9abd62bd04a","title":"High Elms And Downe","path":"walks/routes/recommended/high-elms-and-downe","contentMarkdown":"# Kent Ramblers Walk 7\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_007.jpg)\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### High Elms Estate\n\nHigh Elms House was the home of\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P007a.jpg)\n\nJohn Lubbock, first Lord Avebury, whose claims to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tfame are many.  He was a keen naturalist and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tanthropologist; a friend and supporter of Charles Darwin \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twho lived at Downe; a banker, politician and social \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\treformer.  He saved Avebury stone circle from \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdevelopers and was responsible for introducing bank \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tholidays.  He died in 1913.\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P007c.jpg)\n\nThe house burned down in 1967 but the estate survives \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tfor public use in the ownership of the London Borough of \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBromley.\n\nThere is a\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNature Centre open from 11 to 4 on Saturdays and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSundays and a \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcaf' open daily from 9:30 until 5:00 (4:00 in \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twinter).\n\n### Downe Church\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P007b.jpg)\n\nIn the churchyard is a memorial to Charles Darwin, \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\this wife Emma and his brother Erasmus.  However \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCharles is not buried here as he had wished, but in \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWestminster Abbey.\n\n### Public Transport\n\nBus service R8 runs from Orpington railway station to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHigh Elms and then to Downe which might be a more \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tconvenient starting point for those not using a car.\n\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_007.htm on 2025-12-11 09:18","contentHtml":"<h1>Kent Ramblers Walk 7</h1>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_007.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<h2>Points of Interest</h2>\n<h3>High Elms Estate</h3>\n<p>High Elms House was the home of</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P007a.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>John Lubbock, first Lord Avebury, whose claims to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfame are many.  He was a keen naturalist and \n\t\t\t\t\t\tanthropologist; a friend and supporter of Charles Darwin \n\t\t\t\t\t\twho lived at Downe; a banker, politician and social \n\t\t\t\t\t\treformer.  He saved Avebury stone circle from \n\t\t\t\t\t\tdevelopers and was responsible for introducing bank \n\t\t\t\t\t\tholidays.  He died in 1913.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P007c.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>The house burned down in 1967 but the estate survives \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfor public use in the ownership of the London Borough of \n\t\t\t\t\t\tBromley.</p>\n<p>There is a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNature Centre open from 11 to 4 on Saturdays and \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSundays and a \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcaf&#39; open daily from 9:30 until 5:00 (4:00 in \n\t\t\t\t\t\twinter).</p>\n<h3>Downe Church</h3>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P007b.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>In the churchyard is a memorial to Charles Darwin, \n\t\t\t\t\t\this wife Emma and his brother Erasmus.  However \n\t\t\t\t\t\tCharles is not buried here as he had wished, but in \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWestminster Abbey.</p>\n<h3>Public Transport</h3>\n<p>Bus service R8 runs from Orpington railway station to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHigh Elms and then to Downe which might be a more \n\t\t\t\t\t\tconvenient starting point for those not using a car.</p>\n<p>Automatically migrated from <a href=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_007.htm\">https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_007.htm</a> on 2025-12-11 09:18</p>\n"}