Devonshire Terrace is the name of a house near Regents Park where the Victorian writer Charles Dickens lived with his family between 1839 – 1851. The house was demolished in the late 1950’s for construction of offices.
In December 1839, Charles Dickens moved the family from Doughty Street into larger premises at 1 Devonshire Terrace, near Regent’s Park, London. He took a twelve year lease on the property.
Whilst at Devonshire Terrace, Dickens completed work on Barnaby Rudge and wrote the novels Martin Chuzzlewit, The Old Curiosity Shop, Dombey & Son and David Copperfield. as well as the short story and one of his most famous works A Christmas Carol.
Dora Annie Dickens.
Dora Annie Dickens, the ninth of the ten children of Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine was born on the 16 August 1850 at Devonshire Terrace. She died suddenly and unexpectedly at the house after suffering convulsions on 14 April 1851.
Present day site of Devonshire Terrace. A large wall sculpture commemorates the connection of the site with Charles Dickens. Photograph taken May 2015.
Move.
In November 1851, Dickens and his family moved from Devonshire Terrace to larger premises at Tavistock House.
Location.
The present day site is on the busy Marylebone Road, located at numbers 15-17. Nearest underground station is Baker Street.
Mural.
A large mural was erected on the wall of the office block that occuipied Devonshire House. It was created by the sculptor Estcourt James Clack (1884-1973). It depicts Charles Dickens and the characters he created whilst living at Devonshire Terrace. Next to Dickens, in clockwise direction these are Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Barnaby Rudge (Barnaby Rudge), Little Nell and her grandfather (The Old Curiosity Shop), Dombey and his daughter (Dombey & Son), Mrs Gamp (Martin Chuzzlewit), David Copperfield (David Copperfield) and Mr Micawber (David Copperfield).
