Building MPM665 - CHARLES DICKENS BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM

Late-18th century red brick terraced house where Charles Dickens was born on the 7th February 1812. Formerly known as 1 Mile End Terrace. [1] The terrace of four houses was built by William Pearce, a Mercer and Draper, who lived in the house next door (now 391 Commercial Road). [2]

The house was bought by Portsmouth Corporation at auction in 1903 and opened as the Charles Dickens Museum. The property was refurbished/restored between 1968 and 1970 as it was deemed to be unsafe. These works included a number of alterations to the building and the replacement of fixtures and fittings. Stone paving was also re-laid and replaced. The museum was redisplayed to recreate how the house would have looked when Charles Dickens was born. A copy of a building plan for the restoration works is held by Portsmouth Museum Service. [2, 3]

The garden was shortened when the road layout behind the house was altered in the c1970s. [2]

<1> Historic England, The National Heritage List for England (Index). SPM35.

<2> Portsmouth Museum and Record Service, n.d, Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum: The Story of a House (Bibliographic reference). SPM571.

<3> Dowell, Norman (Portsmouth City Council), 1967, Restoration of Charles Dickens Museum (Unpublished document). SPM572.