Charles Darwin’s home could become tourist spot
Transforming Charles Darwin’s former home into a museum would attract thousands of Chinese tourists to Shrewsbury, according to a councillor.
Shropshire Councillor and former Mayor of Shrewsbury, Ioan Jones, is backing calls for the famous house to be turned into a tourist attraction.
It comes after it has been revealed the Valuation Office Agency, which is currently based at the property on The Mount, Shrewsbury, is to move out of the building.
Councillor Jones recently travelled to Lanzhou, the capital city of northwest China’s Gansu province, to forge links between Chinese secondary schools and Shrewsbury University.
He said: “They’re fascinated with Darwin in China because of evolution and can’t believe more isn’t done to promote him and his work over here in Shrewsbury.
“I’m already in discussions to bring Chinese students over here and show them the town with the hope of getting them to study at our university.
“But having something like a museum in Darwin’s home would be a great selling point.
“We’re always talking about tourism and how to promote the town.
“Here is an amazing opportunity to attract people from Asia.”
Current mayor, councillor Jane MacKenzie, is also calling for the house to be turned into a heritage centre to tie in with the Darwin tour around the town.
Darwin was born in Shrewsbury on February 12, 1809, in Mount House.
