IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Fort Road, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1EY

The former home of Charles Dickens. It was here that Dickens wrote 'David Copperfield' and began work on his follow-up book 'Bleak House'. The house is now used as a hotel.

The building is Grade II listed: "The core is early C19 but this was refronted and extended in 1901. The house was originally known as "Fort House" as it was built as the residence of the Fort Captain during the Napoleonic Wars. This was one of Charles Dickens' favourite lodging houses during the summer months and here he wrote 'David Copperfield' in 1850 and planned 'Bleak House, though the 'Bleak House' of the novel is a completely fictitious building and this building was renamed many years after the book was published. 2 to 3 storeys and basement brown brick. The right hand portion of 3 storeys is the original building. Crenellated parapet. 2 altered mullioned and transomed windows with hood moulding to the older part and mullioned and transomed windows, including a 5-light bay running through 2 storeys to the addition of 1901. The original door to the older wing has been blocked in to form a window and the original bow window recased and crenellated. Brick porch to modern wing with crenellated parapet and arched opening with hood moulding. The interior has been arranged as a Dickens Museum. The mahogany staircase and some fireplaces are original. Grade II for Dickens associations" http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1239493 . Bleak House now contains a tea rooms and restaurant, and does "amazing bed & breakfast"; it is also a "wedding and function venue". Tours of the house, including Dickens's study are offered; and there is a smuggling museum http://www.bleakhousebroadstairs.co.uk/index.html .

Bleak House viewed from the beach and across Harbour Street. The core of Bleak House in 19th century but it was altered and extended in 1901. It was originally Fort House, residence of the fort captain during the Napoleonic Wars. Said to be one of Charles Dickens' favourite lodging houses.

The name derives from the Dickens novel, rather than the other way round, as a result of the author at least planning the novel while resident here in around 1849. The house dates back to the early 19th century but was re-fronted and extended in 1901. Listed Grade II.

One of a number of anchors built into walls nearby. A plaque adjacent states that this was the auxiliary anchor of the 7-master ‘Thomas W Lawson’, wrecked in 1907, although the metalwork appears to have been heavily overlaid with cement.

Part of the wall to Bleak House

In the North end of the car park at Broadstairs near Bleak House.