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unusual facts about Bleak House, Broadstairs



Bleak House

Bleak House in Broadstairs, on the far northeast tip of Kent adjoining Margate, is where Dickens stayed with his family for at least one month every summer, from 1839 until 1851, when he was becoming established as a successful writer.

Vladimir Nabokov called him "one of the best and kindest human beings ever described in a novel".

Harold Bloom, in his book The Western Canon, considers Bleak House to be Dickens's greatest novel.

This character is probably based on Inspector Charles Frederick Field of the then recently formed Detective Department at Scotland Yard.

Bleak House, Broadstairs

Charles Dickens spent Summer holidays at Fort House in the 1850s and 1860s and it was there in that "airy nest" above the harbour that he wrote perhaps his most meritous work, David Copperfield.

Bleak House, formerly known as Fort House, is a large house on the cliff overlooking the North Foreland and Viking Bay in Broadstairs, Kent.

Horsemonger Lane Gaol

Dickens later based the character of Hortense in Bleak House on Maria Manning, while Mrs Chivery's tobacco shop in Little Dorrit is located on Horsemonger Lane.

Jeremy Silberston

During the 1980s he was Production Manager of the Nanny Series 1 (1980), Smiley's People (mini TV Series) (1982), Doctor Who The Five Doctors (1983), My Cousin Rachel (mini TV Series) (1983), Bleak House (mini TV Series) (1985), two episodes of EastEnders (1986) and two episodes of Casualty (1988-1989).

John Cockett

John Ashley Cockett (born 23 December 1927 in Broadstairs) is a former English sportsman who was an olympic bronze medal winning field hockey player for England and Great Britain.

Marie-Madeleine d'Houet

In 1980, at the request of the Postulator of the cause, the remains were transferred to the chapel of the General Motherhouse of the congregation in Broadstairs, Kent.

Morelli's

In 1932 Morelli opened an ice cream parlour and cappuccino bar on the seafront in Broadstairs, Kent.

Peter Thellusson

It is believed that the Thellusson Will case provided the basis for the fictional case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce in Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House.

Sydney Smith Haldimand Dickens

When aged 3, and staying with the family at Broadstairs, his father asked him if he would walk to the railway station to meet John Forster, who was coming for a visit.

The Yorkshire Musical Saw Player

As well as taking part in the "BBC music live" festival he has also played in a skip outside Belfast City Hall for a "Catalyst Arts" Festival, in a folk festival at Broadstairs and as part of the International Gilbert and Sullivan festival in Buxton.

Tom Pendry, Baron Pendry

In an article in Cheshire Life in June 2004, Pendry reveals that he was born in relatively comfortable circumstances in Broadstairs, Kent, attending school at St Augustine's Abbey.


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