A Famous Face (or two?)

What is so special about this house you might be asking yourself? Well, its actually the birthplace of Charles Dickens. As the official website of the house states:

"The famous writer Charles Dickens was born in this modest house in Portsmouth, England in 1812. The house has miraculously survived and is now preserved as a museum furnished in the style of 1809 which is when John and Elizabeth Dickens set up the first home of their married life there.

They had no idea that their eldest son would go on to become one of the most internationally famous writers popular across the world for his novels and short stories. John Dickens came to Portsmouth when his job in the Navy Pay Office was transferred from London. They stayed here until 1815 when his job demanded that he return to London. Charles Dickens only lived in Portsmouth for the first three years of his life but he returned to the town on three occasions. Once he returned to research background information for his novel 'Nicholas Nickleby', and on two occasions later in life when he was a famous writer to give public readings of his work. On his last visit in 1866 he tried to find his birthplace but was unsuccessful, however it is now clearly signposted so visitors can find it easily!"

Portsmouth has many famous former residents among them: Charles Dickens, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the museum here has an entire collection of his memorabilia including his notebook) and Peter Sellers was born here (above a Chinese takeaway).

Since Charles Dickens was here the city has changed a lot, and I`m not sure he would appreciate the huge city housing blocks that have sprung up nearby.

View Charles Dickens Birthplace @ Google Maps.

(The house is in the center of the shot, one of the terrace of four. If you follow the road up, you`ll find its large neighbours)