IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Trotwood Place, BROADSTAIRS, CT10 1RA

Despite its name, Dickens never lived in this house during his time in Broadstairs. Instead, it was once the home of Miss Mary Pearson Strong on whom Dickens based the character of Miss Betsey Trotwood in the novel "David Copperfield". The house is now a museum to commemorate the Dickens' association with the town.

Early 19th century Grade II Listed house with a plaque that states 'In this house lived the original of Betsey Trotwood in "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens 1849' It is now a museum housed in the cottage that was Charles Dickens’ inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood. The character Betsey Trotwood is based on Miss Mary Pearson Strong who lived in the cottage. According to the reminiscences of Charles Dickens’ son Charley, he and his father regularly had tea and cakes in the parlour with Mary. She was convinced of her right to stop the passage of donkeys along the cliff top in front of her cottage and that became the donkey incident for the character of Betsey Trotwood in the book.

At its lower (east) end, High Street (left) joins the south end of Albion Street, a heavily used street I somehow caught at a quiet moment. To the right of the cream building there is an alleyway that leads to the sea front.

A lovely seaside terrace overlooking the bay. The house with the flower baskets is the Dickens House Museum.

The address appears to be derelict but planning permission has been granted by Thanet District Council under application numbers F/TH/16/0452, the “change of use from retail (A1) to drinking establishment (A4)”. L/TH/16/0861 an “application for listed building consent for alterations to shop front including replacement windows on John Street, replacement stall risers and removal and replacement of coloured wooden panels with dark stained timber panels along with internal alterations to facilitate change of use to A4” and A/TH/16/0891 the “erection and display of 4 non-illuminated fascia signs, 2 non-illuminated hanging signs and 1 non-illuminated panel sign on 1st and 2nd floors”. With regard to application number L/TH/16/0861, I was unable any reference to it on the British Listed Buildings website http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/

Large Georgian hotel, on Albion Street in the centre of Broadstairs.

The low evening Sun illuminates the buildings at the south end of Albion Street and creates a rainbow in the grey sky above.