Erasmus Darwin House

The Erasmus Darwin House is part of the fascinating triumvirate of Lichfield’s main attractions, along with Lichfield Cathedral and the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. All are worth it, making Lichfield an inexpensive and intensely educational day out for kids of all ages!
Erasmus Darwin, an educated and interesting man in his own right, is unfortunately known best for being the grandfather of Charles Darwin.
Erasmus (let’s call him Raz, for short), was a philosopher, writer, naturalist, and dabbled in so many fields, he was a true jack of all trades.
Famously saying, A fool you know, is a man who never tried an experiment in his life, Raz was chief amongst Midlanders in his era (mid 18^th century) for all sorts of scientific theory, which undoubtedly influenced young Chaz.
Though not particularly renowned during his lifetime, he is now recognized as one of the top poets of his era.
The house itself is fairly unimpressive for much more than a nice specimen of mid-​18^th century housiness. There are some interesting furnishings, and some nice informational plaques up, but it’s nothing that will astound anyone.
The house is very pretty, and lovely to be in, but again, unless you’re doing your thesis on Early Antiecclestiastical Thinkers of Staffordshire in the 18^th Century, you won’t be fascinated.
It is well worth the £3 entry fee to see, however, and very nicely kept, with helpful staff and requisite baubles to purchase (some nice stuff, actually).
The nicest thing on a sunny day is to go into the Herb Garden, which is very pretty and quaint, and nicely kept in the English tradition, and also free, in the student’s tradition. There is a very cute bunny rabbit who I think should be named Fittest, but no one agrees.