Dickens House Broadstairs with Darren Cowd

We have to thank Darren Cowd TDC museums manager & Curator of Dickens House.

Dickens House Museum celebrates Charles Dickens' long connection with Broadstairs (1837-1851). It is housed in the cottage that was Charles Dickens' inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield. According to the reminiscences of Charles Dickens son Charley, they regularly had tea there with Miss Mary Pearson Strong, and her belief of her right to stop the passage of donkeys in front of her cottage became the donkey incident for the character of Betsey Trotwood.

The parlour, described by Dickens and illustrated by Phiz, will be known to readers of David Copperfield. The cupboard in the corner may be recognised as the "press" from which Miss Betsey produced the concoctions she gave poured down the throat of young David Copperfield.

Visitors to Dickens House Museum will see items that once belonged to Charles Dickens including letters written about Broadstairs, his writing box and mahogany sideboard, along with a fine collection of prints by H K Browne (Phiz), one of Dickens' principal illustrators. There are also displays of Dickensian memorabilia, Victorian costumes and Victoriana, as well as a feature on "Our English Watering Place". It was in 1851 that Charles Dickens wrote this affectionate record of the town and its inhabitants.

​2026 Season: Wednesday 1st April - Sunday 1st November: Wednesday to Sunday, 1pm to 4.30pm (last entry 4pm) For more information and to book

Email: museums@thanet.gov.uk

• Phone: 01843 577646
• Website: Visit Thanet Museums