It’s always exciting to be allowed into somewhere well-known, but that comparatively few people have visited.

So I was thrilled - and a little surprised - to find myself in the dining room of Darwin House, formerly known as the Mount House, which is the birthplace of Charles Darwin.

But it was also a family home, under the gaze of materfamilias Susannah Darwin.

How much do you know about Susannah Darwin? She was a remarkable woman in her own right … and like so many other remarkable women through history, is nothing like as well known as she deserves to be.

Shropshire artist Katy Alston (pictured above with John Hughes, Darwin House Museum project manager) has been studying Susannah, whilst mapping her life onto the landscape around her home. Find out more in this episode of Hello You, and by following the links below.

Also mentioned or covered in this episode (links ahoy!):

* my dad

* artist and illustrator Katy Alston

* Dr Jude Piesse, author of ‘The Ghost in the Garden: The Search for Darwin’s Lost Garden’

* Darwin Birthplace Trust

* Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin

* Bob Newhart

* Ken Nordine, and his albums including …

* ‘Sounds In Space’, and …

* ‘Word Jazz’ (you have to listen to this!)

* ‘Surrender To The Rhythm: The London Pub Rock Scene of the Seventies’

* ‘Heroes and Villains: The Sound of Los Angeles 1965-1968’

* stereo demonstration records (apparently some younger people don’t even understand what stereo is [kicks bin])

* 1950s very-stereo lounge records like this (now you know why I always record in stereo when I possibly can!)

* lambs

* socks

* feel-good television

* ‘Happy You’

* where should I record a soundscape next?

* dates, times and locations for the next two Benches

I hope you enjoy this episode of Hello You. Your comments and suggestions are always very welcome.

Please share this with your friends, family, colleagues, WhatsApp chats, Facebook groups, or anyone who might find it interesting.

Take care of yourself, and take care of the people around you. What else can we do?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimallthetime.substack.com/subscribe