A Darwin manuscript discovered at Christ's College after a century in darkness

by John van Wyhe, Bye-Fellow

A Darwin manuscript has been discovered at Christ's College that had been hidden since 1909.

For many years a framed photograph of Charles Darwin (1809-1882) hung on the end of a book case in the Old Library. Also inside the frame, just below the photograph, a small rectangular opening in the mount diplayed the signature 'Ch. Darwin'. During recent visits to the Old Library I was curious to know if this
signature was just a scrap of paper cut from a letter, or if it was written on a document still preserved, though sealed inside the frame.

The photograph, and the frame, have their own story. A penciled note on the wooden back of the frame explains:

This photograph of Darwin was presented by him to my Uncle, F.D. Dyster, of Tenby. I am informed by Francis Darwin, his son, that the photograph was probably taken in the year 1854, but he had never seen it. F. H. H. Guillemard.

Below this it is explained that it was displayed at Christ's during the Darwin centenary exhibition in 1909.

Finally a typewritten note records that Guillemard gave the framed photograph to the College in 1934.

There is an entry for the photograph in the 1909 exhibition catalogue.

91. PORTRAIT OF CHARLES DARWIN.

Lent by Dr. F. H. H. Guillemard.

Photograph probably taken about 1854 and given by Charles Darwin to F. D. Dyster, Esq., the microscopist.

(Shipley, Darwin Centenary. The portraits, prints and writings of Charles Robert Darwin. Exhibited at Christ's College, Cambridge, 1909.)

This photograph was taken about one year after Darwin started full-time work on his species theory, c. 1855 by Maull and Polyblank for the Literary and Scientific Portrait Club. A Darwin letter to J. D. Hooker on 27 May 1855 refers to this photograph: 'if I really have as bad an expression, as my photograph gives me, how I
can have one single friend is surprising.' (Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 5, p. 339.)

There is no known surviving Darwin correspondence with Frederick Daniel Dyster (1810-1893). He was a surgeon naturalist with strong interests in marine zoology. Dyster was a friend of T. H. Huxley and attended Emma Darwin's aunt, Jessie Sismondi, when she died on 3 March 1853. (Litchfield, H. E. ed. 1915. Emma Darwin, A century of family letters, 1702-1896. London: John Murray. Volume 2, p. 152)

The College Librarian, Candace Guite, and the Keeper of Pictures, David Norman, gave permission for the frame to be removed and opened. This was done by Conservation Officer, Melvin Jefferson.

On opening the frame, which had presumably been sealed since 1909, Jefferson found the Darwin signature to be the endorsement on the back of a cheque! The entire cheque had been carefully folded and preserved so that just the signature on the back could be seen through the mount.

The cheque is from the Union Bank of London, made out by Darwin 'to self' for 100 pounds on 21 March 1872!

Photo by Melvin Jefferson.

The entire cheque transcribed is as follows (Darwin's writing is in bold):

No. V18356 London March 21 1872

The Union Bank of London,
CHARING CROSS BRANCH 4, PALL MALL EAST.
Pay to self or Order One Hundred Pounds

100.0.0

This Cheque must be endorsed by the party to whom it is payable Ch. Darwin

On the reverse it is signed: 'Ch. Darwin' – this being the signature visible under the framed photograph.

The cheque is stamped: 'Paid Mar. 22' A hole in the centre probably indicates Darwin put the cheque on his spits.

What was Darwin doing on 21 March 1872? We know from his 'Journal' or diary that he and his family left their rented London holiday house on that very day to return to their home in the village of Downe, Kent.

'Feb. 13 to March 21. London, 9 Devonshire St. Portland Place (5 weeks)'.

According to the Calendar of his correspondence, Darwin acknowledged payment from his American publisher on the 16th. American editions of Darwin's new book, The descent of man, had been in print since 1871.

So how did the cheque end up inside the frame with the photograph Darwin gave to Dyster? Dyster's nephew, Dr Francis Henry Hill Guillemard (1852-1933), a geographer and travel writer, signed the exhibition guest book at Christ's College with Francis Darwin on 11 June 1909. Perhaps Francis Darwin offered the cheque from his father's papers as an example of his signature. Darwin's papers had now become so precious that the cheque was preserved, and the signature not just cut out.

And so the photograph, and the cheque bearing Darwin's signature, were sealed behind glass in 1909. In 1934 the frame was given to Christ's (probably after the death of Guillemard) where it has hung ever since.

Both the photograph and the cheque will now be conserved according to modern standards.

To find out more about Darwin see: The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online.

Christ's College is relatively small and cannot easily accommodate visits by large groups. In view of this we specify that groups should be no larger than 12 including any guides.  In some circumstances, larger groups can be accepted by arrangement, but this normally involves dividing the visitors into groups of 12, and staggering their times of arrival at College.

Organisers of visits who wish to bring a group to Christ's are asked to note the College's opening times before making any arrangements. All group visits to the College should be arranged through Cantab Tours, who will provide an official Cambridge Blue or Green Badge Guide. If you are thinking of organising a group visit to Christ's please contact the Director of College Services in the first instance.

Getting to Christ's College

Christ's College Boatclub

Christ's College Sports Ground (shared site with St Catharine's College)

University of Cambridge Official Map.

By Bicycle

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There are direct services from London Kings Cross and London Liverpool Street.  When travelling from the north or west, it is normally necessary to change at Peterborough and/or Ely.

There are frequent bus services from Cambridge Railway Station to the city centre (Drummer Street Bus Station, which is adjacent to the College); taxis are also available at the station.

By Bus

Drummer Street bus station is a 2 minute walk from the College. There are frequent buses two and from the railway station.

The Universal bus service links Eddington with West Cambridge, the city centre (Queens College/Silver Street), the railway station and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (including Addenbrooke's), and runs every 15 minutes Monday to Friday and every 20 to 30 minutes at weekends.

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National Express long distance coach services terminate at Parkside, on the Northern side of Parkers Piece, as does the Stagecoach X5 service from Oxford via Milton Keynes. Christ's is only a few minutes walk from the terminal.

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There are direct coach services from the four London airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton.  There is also a direct train service from Stansted (which is the nearest of the four London airports). 

By Road

Parking in Cambridge city centre car parks can be difficult and is also expensive.There are several Park and Ride sites located outside the city centre with bus connections to Drummer Street Bus Station, adjacent to the College, and it is recommended that visitors use these facilities whenever possible. Details of Park and Ride sites, city centre car parks and parking charges can be found on the City Council's website.

The College has very limited on-site parking facilities, which are invariably full to capacity in term.  The College car park may only be used by visitors with the permission of the Director of College Services. Please note that car parking is not available for bed and breakfast guests.

Road approaches to Cambridge can be seen here

The College main gate and Porters' Lodge are located on St Andrew's Street.

Please note that there is a one way system in operation preventing direct access to St Andrew's Street from Regent Street: private vehicles heading North up Regent Street are directed right into  Park Terrace, left into  Parkside / Drummer Street and then left again into Emmanuel Street.   At the end of Emmanuel Street, turn right into St Andrew's Street and Hobson's Street for the College.

Please also note that  Hobson's Street is one way,  with no entry permitted from the King Street end, so it is not possible to access the College car park from King Street.  Satellite navigation systems are not always aware of this restriction.

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The College welcomes diversity amongst its students, academic and non-academic staff and visitors, recognising the particular contributions to the achievement of the College's mission that can be made by individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

Simon McDonald was born and educated in Salford, and read History at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he is now an Honorary Fellow.

He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1982 and, early in his career, served in Jeddah, Riyadh, Bonn and Washington, D.C.  He was British Ambassador to Israel (2003-2006) and to Germany (2010-15).  In September 2015 Simon became Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCO and Head of the Diplomatic Service.  After leaving the FCO in Autumn 2020, he was appointed a life peer, taking his seat in the House of Lords as Lord McDonald of Salford in February 2021.

Simon is a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) and  Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).

His first book - Leadership:  Lessons from a Life in Diplomacy - was published in 2022 and his second - Beyond Britannia: Reshaping UK Foreign Policy - in 2023.

The University of Salford awarded him an Honorary doctorate in 2024.

Simon became the 39th Master of Christ's College on 1 September 2022.  He is married to Olivia and they have four adult children.

Address: Christ's College, Cambridge CB2 3BU.
E-mail: masters-assistant@christs.cam.ac.uk

Visitors are welcome to explore the College and its grounds. Apart from the Chapel, visitors are not able to enter any College buildings. Please note that these details are subject to change at any time; in particular, the College or the Fellows' Garden are sometimes closed for functions and other events. 

Opening Times:

College Grounds, 9:00am - 4:00pm, 7 days a week

Fellows' Garden, 9:00am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday

Visitors are also welcome to attend the Choral Evensong services held in the College Chapel - these occur during term, on Thursdays at 6.45pm and on Sundays at 6pm. See the Chapel pages for more details. 

The College is open all year round, except during the Christmas close down and during the Quiet Period. During the Quiet Period, prior to and during the University examinations, the College is closed to all visitors, including other members of the University, unless they are on College business. The exact dates of the Quiet Period vary from year to year, according to term dates but as a rough guide, the Quiet Period runs from early May to the end of June.

This year College will be closed from Monday 28 April to Sunday 6 July 2025.

For further information about visiting, please see: 

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