English Charles Dickens Memorabilia, Wooden Tile From Peggotty's Hut 1879, David Copperfield,

Here we have a small wooden roof tile or roof shingle framed behind glass with a gilt plaque underneath, hand written in black ink "Piece of the original Peggotty's Hut, Gt Yarmouth, described by Charles Dickens in 'David Copperfield'-Demolished 1879". Framed in a wooden frame measuring 6.5" by 7". Offered in absolutely 100% original condition. Offered in its original frame, undisturbed original backing paper with original maker & retailers labels. A RARE FIND INDEED....

Condition is excellent. The glass has much accumulated dust underneath but who would dare interfere with this curio.

Please be aware that historically more than one site has been claimed as the original Peggotty's Hut. We know for a fact that Dickens visited the fishing town of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk in the New Year of 1849. He stayed at the town's Royal Hotel. Whilst there he met a man called Jack Sharman. Sharman was a veteran of Horatio Nelson's Battle of Trafalgar. He was employed to look after the nearby column built in 1817 to honour Lord Nelson (pre runner to the London Nelson's Column and famously portrayed by Turner). Anyhow, Sharman and Dickens would have exchanged yarns and Sharman lived in an old black hut on the beach which possibly inspired Dickens portrayal of Peggotty Hut. It is also stated that whilst in Norfolk Dickens saw an old fishing boat, beached high and dry on the sands. Again rumour had it that boat gave him the inspiration. There were reports too, that whilst Dickens stayed at Gravesend in Kent, he saw an upturned smugglers boat, again inspirational material. BUT in "Bygone Suffolk; its history, romance, legend, folk-lore, etc" written in 1900 by John Cuming Walters, Walters makes mention to Peggotty's House being destroyed some twenty years ago. This ties in with the 1879 demolition date on OUR plaque. You can also view an engraving of Peggotty's Hut, Gt Yarmouth Demolished in 1879 on the internet. It is owned by Archant Norfolk. We would purchase it to add the photo but the license costs £250! Ouch.....

So in typical Dickens fashion, many ideas abound for the inspiration behind the Peggotty home. Dickens was the master of transforming a vision into reality.

A superb item to own. We are truly loathed to part with it as it is such a conversation piece. When will you see another?

Item ID: TA071063