|
|
 |
| History |
|
Charles Dickens and his family lived at
48 Doughty Street between April 1837 - exactly a year after his
marriage to Catherine - and December 1839. This coincided with
a period of increased prosperity for the young novelist. The serialisation
of The Pickwick Papers was such a success that the move
from the rather cramped chambers of the Furnival's Inn, Holborn
was made possible.
Doughty Street was at that time a private street, sealed off at
both ends by gates which were manned by porters. Although his
period of residency at number 48 was relatively short compared
to his other homes, he published and completed some of his most
famous works there, including The Pickwick Papers, Oliver
Twist and Nicholas Nichleby. It was an extremely busy
and productuve period of his career.
Lord Birkenhead opens the Dickens
House Museum on 9 June 1925.
|
The
front of 48 Doughty Street.
Dickens's family expanded with his
fame, and after his third child was born in October 1839, he began
looking for more spacious accommodation, which by then he could
easily afford. A letter describes:
"A house of great promise (and great premium) 'undeniable'
situation, and excessive splendour is in view."
This was 1 Devonshire Terrace, Regents Park, to which the family
moved at the end of 1839. It was demolished in 1959.
The Doughty Street house itself came under threat of demolition
in 1923, but was saved by the Dickens Fellowship (founded in 1902),
who raised the mortgage and bought the freehold. The house was renovated
and the Charles Dickens Museum (then the Dickens House Museum) was
opened, under the direction of an independent trust.
|
| |
|
|
|
Gifts
and Books
Here
you will find gifts for all
the family as well as a wide
range of books by or about
Charles Dickens.
Support
Click
here to find out how
you can support the
Museum in its many
educational, conservational and curatorial activities.
Events
For
our programme of events
and educational activities,
please click here.
Hire
the Museum
The
Museum can be hired
for private functions,
performances, soirees, book
launches and many other
social occasions. Click here
to find out more.
|
