Dirty Dick facts for kids
Nathaniel Bentley (born around 1735, died 1809) was a London merchant. He was often called Dirty Dick because of his unusual habits. He owned a shop and a warehouse that sold hardware items. Some people believe he might have inspired the character of Miss Havisham in Charles Dickens' famous book, Great Expectations. This is because Nathaniel Bentley stopped washing himself after a sad event: his fiancée died on their wedding day.
A pub he once owned in the City of London, specifically in an area called Bishopsgate Without, was later named after him.
The Story of Dirty Dick
In his younger days, Nathaniel Bentley was known as a very fashionable man. People even called him the Beau of Leadenhall Street, which meant he was a very stylish person. However, everything changed for him after a very sad event. His fiancée passed away on their wedding day. After this, Nathaniel Bentley decided he would never wash or clean anything again. For the rest of his life, he lived in a very messy and dirty way.
His house and his shop became incredibly filthy. He became famous for how dirty his place was! People even knew that any letter sent to "The dirty Warehouse, London" would reach him. He stopped running his business in 1804. Nathaniel Bentley died around 1809 in a place called Haddington. He was buried in the churchyard of Aubourn parish. His old warehouse was later torn down.
The Pub Named Dirty Dick's
There is a pub on the east side of Bishopsgate, in the Bishopsgate Without area, that Nathaniel Bentley used to own. This pub changed its name from The Old Jerusalem to Dirty Dick's. The new owners wanted the pub to look just like Bentley's messy warehouse shop.
Inside the pub, some of the original items from Bentley's warehouse were kept. These included old cobwebs. At first, these items were in the cellar bar. Now, they are neatly displayed in a glass case. The owners of the pub over the years used the story of Dirty Dick to attract customers. By the late 1800s, the pub's company even made special booklets and advertisements to promote it. In the 1980s, the pub had to be thoroughly cleaned to meet modern health and safety rules.
Today, the Dirty Dick's pub is owned by a company called Young's.
Other Interesting Facts
- Amou Haji – This was a man from Iran who was known for not washing with soap and water for over 65 years.
