The recently refurbished ‘Gentleman’s Library’ (December 2025) was conceived by Jo Yates as part of an engagement project in collaboration with Erasmus Darwin House, and funded by a generous grant from the NWCDTP. The project’s intention was to showcase Erasmus Darwin’s ‘Commonplace Book’ and to provide a focal point for Darwin’s authorial life within the House.
From the large Georgian window, visitors can look out towards Cathedral Close and Spire, experiencing a view that frames the cultural history, literary exchange and social context of Darwin’s life in Lichfield. Inside the ‘period-furnished’ library, Darwin’s ‘Commonplace Book’ takes centre-stage in a protective case. Beside it, visitors can sit at the Doctor’s desk and engage with an interactive ‘book’ and audio-guide which illuminate the historical object and its place in Darwin’s writing. Wall sconces, oil paintings, period chess set, slipper arm chair and fossil collection all contribute to creating an atmosphere of 18th-century intellectual pursuit.
Together, vista, room, object, and display combine to provide a unique and informative visitor experience.
