Charles Dickens Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Dickens Museum
Charles Dickens Museum, London
Alternative names	Charles Dickens House
General information
Type	House
Address	Doughty Street, London, England
Designations	Grade I listed building
Known for	Being the home of the author Charles Dickens in the 1830s

The Charles Dickens Museum is a special place in London. It's a museum in the actual house where the famous writer Charles Dickens lived. He lived there from 1837 to 1839, right after he got married. The house is a beautiful old Georgian style home on Doughty Street.

Charles Dickens's Home on Doughty Street

In the 1800s, Doughty Street was a fancy street where only certain people lived. It even had gates to keep it private! Charles Dickens lived here with his wife, Catherine Dickens. They had their first three children while living in this house. Two of their daughters, Mary Dickens and Kate Macready Dickens, were born right there.

Dickens's younger brother, Frederick Dickens, also lived with them. Catherine's 17-year-old sister, Mary Hogarth, moved in too. It was common for an unmarried sister to help a new couple. Dickens cared for Mary very much. She sadly passed away in 1837 while living in the house. Mary inspired characters in many of Dickens's famous books. Her passing is even shown in his book The Old Curiosity Shop as the death of Little Nell.

Dickens lived in this house for two years. He moved to bigger homes as he became more successful and his family grew. But this house on Doughty Street is the only one of his London homes that still exists today!

Books Written in This House

The two years Dickens spent in this house were very busy for him. He wrote some of his most famous stories here! He finished The Pickwick Papers in this house. He also wrote all of Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby while living there. He even started working on Barnaby Rudge during this time. Imagine all those stories coming to life in those very rooms!

Exploring the Charles Dickens Museum

The house at 48 Doughty Street was almost torn down in 1923. Luckily, a group called the Dickens Fellowship saved it. This group, started in 1902, raised money to buy the house. After some repairs, the Dickens House Museum opened its doors in 1925. It is now a registered charity, meaning it's run for public benefit. The house was officially recognized as an important historical building in 1954.

What You Can See at the Museum

One of the most famous things to see is a painting called Dickens's Dream. It was painted by R. W. Buss, who was an artist for The Pickwick Papers. This painting shows Dickens surrounded by many of the characters he created. It's like all his story ideas are floating around him! The painting was started after Dickens passed away in 1870.

The museum also has many other cool items. You can see first editions of his books and original handwritten stories. There are also letters written by Dickens himself. You can even see personal items that belonged to Dickens and his family. The only known piece of clothing Dickens wore that still exists is also here. It's his special Court Suit and sword, which he wore when he met the Prince of Wales in 1870.

Images for kids

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  Dickens's Dream, by Robert William Buss

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  Dickens's study, where he wrote his famous books.

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  The basement kitchen, where meals were prepared.

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  The room where Mary Hogarth stayed.

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  The dining room, where the family ate together.

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  Dickens's living room, a place for family and guests.

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  A chair that belonged to Charles Dickens.

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  The "Little Midshipman" from Dombey and Son.

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  The headstone of illustrator Robert Seymour.

More About Charles Dickens

• Dickens family
• Dickens World
• Tavistock House
• Dickens House Museum, Broadstairs
• Bleak House, Broadstairs
• Ware, Hertfordshire, a town that holds a yearly Dickensian evening

See also

In Spanish: Museo de Charles Dickens para niños