Charles Dickens Bronze Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most renowned English novelists of the Victorian era. Born in Portsmouth, Dickens spent much of his life in London, where he drew inspiration for his memorable characters and vivid descriptions of the city’s streets and inhabitants.

As a young man, Dickens worked as a journalist, honing his observational skills and developing his distinctive writing style. He achieved widespread fame with his first novel, “The Pickwick Papers” (1836), and went on to create some of the most enduring works of English literature, including “Oliver Twist,” “A Christmas Carol,” “David Copperfield,” and “Great Expectations.”

The George Inn, located at 73 Borough High Street in Southwark, holds a special connection to Dickens. In his novel “Little Dorrit” (1857), Dickens immortalized this historic coaching inn, which is now the last remaining galleried inn in London. The George Inn dates back to the 17th century and would have been a familiar sight to Dickens during his time living and writing in the city. Its picturesque courtyard and galleries provide a glimpse into the London that Dickens knew and so vividly portrayed in his works.

Southwark, where the George Inn is located, was a bustling area during Dickens’ lifetime, known for its industries, markets, and working-class neighborhoods. Many of the borough’s landmarks, such as the notorious Marshalsea Prison, where Dickens’ father was once imprisoned for debt, feature prominently in his novels. Today, visitors to Southwark can still retrace Dickens’ footsteps and immerse themselves in the atmospheric settings that inspired his timeless stories.