Erection date: 8/6/2013
Young Charles Dickens twice lived in this house, 1815 - 16 and 1828 - 31, a few doors from the Cleveland Street Workhouse.
Dicken's first London home
The Dickens Fellowship
Unveiled by Lucinda Dickens Hawksley. Behind this plaque is an interesting detective story, related in Dr Ruth Richardson's book: 'Dickens and the Workhouse'. It was only through Ruth's diligent researches that the closeness of this Dickens' home to a workhouse was realised. This fact led to the recognition that the Cleveland Street Workhouse was probably, at least in part, the inspiration for Oliver Twist's workhouse and thus that Workhouse was awarded listing status, saving it from imminent demolition. The power of history!
Site: Charles Dickens - W1 (1 memorial)
W1, Cleveland Street, 22
From the unveiling publicity: "This modest Georgian house, previously No. 10 Norfolk Street, Marylebone, was Dickens's first home in London. His family lodged there, above a grocer's shop, for almost five years of his childhood and adolescence. Only a few doors from the former Cleveland Street Workhouse."
We took our own photo at the unveiling but Ruth (standing, in the light blue dress) directed us to this lovely shot at Spitalfields Life, where Ruth's shawl can be seen doing double duty as a curtain.
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