Person    | Male  Born 7/2/1812  Died 9/6/1870

Charles Dickens

Born, son of Elizabeth and John Dickens, at No.1 Mile End Terrace, Landport, Portsmouth (where there is a museum). For a map showing many of his London addresses see Londonist. His family were so peripatetic that he had lived in at least 17 places by the time he was 22 and moved out.

Dickens wanted to be buried in Rochester Cathedral but instead we find him in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey, with the inscription: 'He was a sympathiser to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world.' His will specified: 'I conjure to my friends on no account to make me the subject of any monument, memorial or testimonial whatsoever.' Despite this stipulation there is a statue in Sydney and a life-size 1891 bronze by Francis Edwin Elwell in Philadelphia and, in 2014 (late for the 2012 celebrations) a statue by Martin Jennings was unveiled in Portsmouth. Digital Journal in 2011 has more to say about Dickens statues. And what would Dickens have said about all the plaques? But the Portsmouth statue-erectors argue that Dickens' ban on memorials was "just him talking about funeral arrangements" and they point out that he sat for several sculptors.

Lots to read by Dickens and about Dickens but we'd recommend one academic detective novel, about the research that led to the listing, and saving, of the Cleveland Street Workhouse, the one that almost certainly inspired Dickens to write 'Oliver Twist'. Dickens and the Workhouse by Ruth Richardson.

2016: Londonist keeps returning to Dickens and here is surely the last word in Dickens mapped.

2022: Londonist have found another spin: Did Charles Dickens Ever Ride On The London Underground?

2023: This image is Charles Dickens by Margaret Gillies, 1843, courtesy of the Charles Dickens Museum.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Charles Dickens

Commemorated ati

7 - Wine Office Court – Dickens

Mr Lirriper's Lodgings The Extra Christmas Number All the Year Round Charles ...

Read More

Bradbury & Evans

Oh, dear, what is happening to the City plaques? This one looks really cheap...

Read More

Charles Dickens - blacking factory

This was the site of the blacking factory where Dickens worked, aged 12 or 13...

Read More

Charles Dickens - Cranleigh Street

In Dickens' time it was called Johnson Street. His house was number 29 though...

Read More

Charles Dickens home - WC1

Getty has a photo of the unveiling, captioned "A plaque is unveiled at the Br...

Read More

Show all 42

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Charles Dickens

Creations i

Dog and Pot sculpture

Dickens was a boy of 12 when he passed this sign on his way to work in 1824. ...

Read More

Marcus Grantham Fountain

{On a plaque fixed to the rim of the fountain:} In October 1976 this fountai...

Read More

Marshalsea 1 - stone - round

Quoted from Chapter 3 of Little Dorrit.

Read More

Marshalsea 4 - stone - spiral

Quoted from Charles Dickens' preface to Little Dorrit.

Read More

Sculptured stone bench

Portland stone, 6 tonnes. CWO has more information about this bench.

Read More

Other Subjects

G. K. Chesterton

G. K. Chesterton

Writer. Born 32 Sheffield Terrace, Campden Hill, as Gilbert Keith Chesterton. Best known for the Father Brown stories. He often wrote about religion and in 1922 converted to Roman Catholicism. In l...

Person, Literature

4 memorials
Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett

Dramatist and author. Born Dublin as Samuel Barclay Beckett. Lived in Paris most of his life. His plays include: Waiting for Godot (1953) and Krapp's Last Tape (1958). Awarded the Nobel Prize in Li...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, Theatre, France

1 memorial
Herman Melville

Herman Melville

Novelist. Born New York City as Herman Melvill. After 7 years as a seaman on whaling ships 1837 - 44 he began writing about his experiences and in 1851 published Moby Call-me-Ishmael Dick.  In that...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, USA

1 memorial
Charlotte Riddell

Charlotte Riddell

Born as Charlotte Eliza Lawson Cowan in Ireland.  Moved to London in 1855.  Married Joseph Hadley Riddell, a hot water engineer in 1857. They lived in St John's Lodge 1868 - 1873.  Published her fi...

Person, Literature, Ireland

1 memorial
Benvenuto Cellini

Benvenuto Cellini

Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who also wrote a famous autobiography and poetry.

Person, Art, Craft / Design, Literature, Music / songs, Poetry, Sculpture, Italy

2 memorials