Leith Hill Place

Caroline Wedgwood

Caroline grew up as part of the Darwin-Wedgwood family whose members influenced public life in many ways across the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. After the early death of her mother, Caroline and her older sister took on many of the responsibilities of their household. Her father’s diary records that the gardens became their domain and several of Caroline’s letters discuss her pursuits which included looking after the hothouse exotics and the flower garden. Caroline also helped to raise her younger siblings, including the boy who would go on to become the famous naturalist Charles Darwin. Letters between Caroline and Charles attest a close relationship throughout their lives and he valued her opinion highly. On receiving Caroline’s feedback on his groundbreaking work on natural selection - On The Origin of Species - he responded: “Your doubt and queries are perfectly correct.” Caroline also helped to raise her younger siblings, including the boy who would go on to become the famous naturalist Charles Darwin. Letters between Caroline and Charles attest a close relationship throughout their lives and he valued her opinion highly. On receiving Caroline’s feedback on his groundbreaking work on natural selection - On The Origin of Species - he responded: “Your doubt and queries are perfectly correct.” Caroline frequently hosted members of her extended family at Leith Hill Place where she remained until her death on 5th January 1888, at the age of 87.


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