Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2009 | Page 69

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING
times. Since his time much has changed

including a visit to the famous Blackgang

of course, but much has remained the

Chine, a must for the Victorian sightseer

same. Thanks to contemporary records

at this time. Darwin describes the town

we know quite a lot about how he spent

as “the nicest seaside place which we

his time here. And, if you are suitably

have ever seen and we like Shanklin

inspired, it is still possible to retrace at

better than other spots on the south

least some of his footsteps today.

coast of the Island, though many are

The key locations
that inspired Darwin

charming and prettier.”

Freshwater again

Freshwater

Darwin’s third visit to the Island was in

In 1837, a year after his famous ‘Beagle’

1868, for five weeks between mid-July

voyage, Darwin visited his second cousin

and late August. He visited Freshwater

William Darwin Fox at Freshwater in the

again and was visited by Joseph Hooker,

west of the Island. Darwin described this

a noted botanist and good friend, and

visit as one of his “short excursions as a

Alfred Lord Tennyson, who lived nearby

relaxation”.

at Farringford. Th