Editing Downe (section)

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{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
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{{infobox UK place
| static_image_name        = George and Dragon public house, Downe - geograph.org.uk - 1718861.jpg
| static_image_caption     = George and Dragon public house, Downe
| country                  = England
| map_type                 = Greater London
| region                   = London
| population               =
| official_name            = Downe
| constituency_westminster = [[Orpington (UK Parliament constituency)|Orpington]]
| post_town                = ORPINGTON
| postcode_area            = BR
| postcode_district        = BR6
| london_borough           = Bromley
| dial_code                = 01689
| os_grid_reference        = TQ435615
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.3359|0.0535|display=inline,title}} 
}}
[[File:Southwest View of the Church of Saint Mary, Downe (03).jpg|thumb|right|The medieval Church of Saint Mary in Downe]]

'''Downe''', formerly '''Down''' ({{IPAc-en|d|aʊ|n}}), is a village in [[Greater London]], England, located within the [[London Borough of Bromley]], which formed part of [[History of Kent|the historical county of Kent]] until 1965, and is beyond London's contiguous urban area. [[Charles Darwin]] lived in [[Down House]] for forty years until his death in 1882.

Downe is {{convert|3.4|mi|km}} south west of [[Orpington]] and {{convert|14.2|mi|km}} south east of [[Charing Cross]]. Downe lies on a low ridge (an outlier of the [[North Downs]]), and much of the centre of the village is unchanged{{clarify|date=September 2024}}{{Fix|text=unchanged from what?}}; the former village school now acts as the village hall. 

The word Downe originates from the Anglo Saxon word ''dūn'', latterly ''down'', hence the South and North Downs. 

In April 1965, much of [[Orpington Urban District]], including Downe, was transferred from the [[historic counties of England|historic county]] of Kent and placed within the newly created London Borough of Bromley.