The Old Curiosity Shop
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Portsmouth Street, where we find one of the most evocative and physically leaning buildings in all of London: The Old Curiosity Shop. This remarkably preserved structure, with its overhanging timber frame and plaster…
Listen in the app2Portsmouth Street — The Historic Fabric
Standing on Portsmouth Street, you are in a location that has managed to preserve a fragment of pre-industrial London. This street was once part of a bustling network of alleys and courts that defined the area around Lincoln’s…
Listen in the app3The Dickensian Inspiration — Nell and her Grandfather
The relationship between this building and the novel 'The Old Curiosity Shop' is one of the most famous examples of literary inspiration in the world. Charles Dickens was a frequent walker of London’s streets, often finding the…
Listen in the app4The Architecture — 16th-Century Survival
From a purely architectural perspective, The Old Curiosity Shop is a rare and precious survivor. Built around 1567, it represents the vernacular style of the Elizabethan era. …
Listen in the app5The Interior — A Glimpse into the Past
While the interior of the shop is not always open to the public, the scholarly traveler can imagine the world within based on historical records and Dickens’ descriptions. The interior was characterized by low, beamed ceilings…
Listen in the app6Social Commentary — Dickens and the Working Class
To visit the Old Curiosity Shop is to engage with Charles Dickens’ role as a social commentator. Dickens used the setting of the shop to explore the 'class and the different levels' of society. …
Listen in the app7The Legacy — A Global Literary Landmark
As we conclude our look at the Old Curiosity Shop, we must reflect on its status as a global literary landmark. For over 180 years, fans of Charles Dickens have made pilgrimages to this small building, seeking a connection to the…
Listen in the app8Closing
As you move away from the Old Curiosity Shop and return to the modern bustle of London, we hope you take with you a sense of the 'haunting beauty' of this historic survivor. This building is more than just timber and plaster; it…
Listen in the app
What is The Old Curiosity Shop?
The Old Curiosity Shop is a place with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Type | Heritage |
|---|---|
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 51.5162, -0.1165 |
| Last updated |
