Bleak House is a novel by Charles Dickens, published in 20 monthly installments between March 1852 and September 1853 and is generally held to be one of Dickens’ finest novels.
Well known characters include the menacing lawyer Tulkinghorn, the depressive John Jarndyce and the childish Harold Skimpole. The novel is also famous for featuring one of the first detectives in English fiction, Inspector Bucket.
As was his wont, Dickens drew upon real people and places in writing this novel. There seems little dispute about who many of his characters were based on, but there is plenty of dispute about where the story was based. The house pictured here is in Broadstairs in Kent, where Dickens spent his summer holidays in the 1850s and 1860s, and where he is known to have written David Copperfield. It was originally known as Fort House but was dubbed Bleak House in the early part of the 20th Century when someone suggested that it was the inspiration for the eponymous novel.
With views over Viking Bay and beyond, I can see how the place would provide inspiration.
However, many believe that the house of this book was in fact in Hertfordshire; there is a Bleak House in Folly Lane in St Albans, and Hemel Hempstead’s Abbot’s Hill School is yet another candidate.
Linked to Tagged B Challenge, ABC Wednesday and Alphabe Thursday.
Travel with Intent 
You didn’t resize the photo of the door, which is great cause I could admire all the details on the facade. This place surely provides inspiration with this vast horizon.
LikeLike
I must go back and get more photos. It is a great cliff top setting but I hadn’t realised its history when I was there in 2013.
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so neat when an image contrived in our imaginations meets our expectations!
Bravo! This was a beautiful link for the letter “B”.
A+
LikeLike
Very interesting! That entrance is so beautiful@
LikeLike
love the outside of “Bleak House” with the stones. Dickens always had great names for his characters! {:-D
LikeLike
Bleak – such a wonderfully British word and a perfect B for Alphabe Thursday. Although I am surprised as I don’t have Kent or Hertfordshire as too bleak in my my book, more up north… running now as I’m typing all the way off to my unseasonably warm Aussie Autumn shouting “it’s Ok, I’m a Brit, I’m allowed to make such a comment” !!! You of course all get the last laugh as we head into our Aussie Bleak season, you’re about to enjoy the summer 🙂
Wren x
LikeLike
As long as we get a summer this year 🙂
On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 9:50 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
>
LikeLike
Now I want to read Bleak House! 🙂
LikeLike
That’s a magnificent door! I’ve read quite a lot of Dickens, but not Bleak House — looks like I’d better get to reading! Or maybe look for that Masterpiece Theater series mentioned above 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for filling us in on Bleak House. I enjoy Dickens, and this was intriguing!
=)
LikeLike
Fantastic choice for B ~ and wonderful photography ~ Happy Weekend to you ~ xoxo
LikeLike
This is great! Bleak house is definitely my favorite Dickens. PBS/BBC Masterpeice Theater series on tv did Bleak House and it was 5★★★★★ Awesome – maybe the series is on youtube, if you’re interested to watch, you definitely won’t be disappointed!
LikeLike
That’s a great tip. Thanks, I’ll look for it.
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLike
Thanks for the explanation – I’d always assumed that this was completely fictitious – nice to know the real story.
LikeLike
I love a good read! I think you covered this beautifully and the photos are great! Enjoy the week.
LikeLike
Thanks Anne.
On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 4:17 AM, Travel with Intent wrote:
>
LikeLike
Not a Dickens story I’ve read, but I love the inspirational place behind it.
LikeLike
I need to reread Dickens, it’s been a long time…
LikeLike
Same here. But oh for 36 hour day.
On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 2:21 AM, Travel with Intent wrote:
>
LikeLike
Great photos. Interesting. Thanks for sharing the background.
LikeLike
Dickens is the master of creating the atmosphere of places. I liked how the BBC recreated the episodic nature of Bleak House when they serialised it in short bursts.
LikeLike
Beautiful scenery, but I imagine in winter it would be pretty “bleak.” Gorgeous photos.
leslie
abcw team
LikeLike
Very interesting, – and do you suppose Inspector Bucket was an ancestor of Hyacinth?
LikeLike
You just never know! I’m surprised she didn’t mention him, mind – she wasn’t averse to name dropping.
LikeLike
it is quite an impressive looking place from what you have pictured here. The door knocker looks like something Ebenezer Scrooge would have used.
LikeLike
Great shots and interesting post. Carver, ABC Wed. Team
LikeLike
Beautiful door knocker and I guess I had better drag out Mr. Dickens and read up on Bleak House.
LikeLike
Then treat yourself to a trip!
LikeLike
The literature and history lover in me says whichever is closest to the truth, I’d like to have my photo taken in one of those Bleak Houses!
LikeLike
The Broadstairs setting is the more stunning of these – looking out to sea.
LikeLike
Very interesting. Love that door and knocker!
LikeLike
Beautiful photos. Enjoyed reading the history of the house!
LikeLike
Interesting!
LikeLike
I love this! I’m very fond of Dickens anyway. Kind of wish they’d put Chesney Wold on the door (the actual name of Bleak House, if I remember correctly), though—Wold is my family name. 😉
LikeLike
They run this as a small hotel now and I guess that would limit custom 😉
LikeLike
I was impressed by the cinema movie of Roman Polanski: a tribute to Charles Dickens … (my own childhood, starting in an orphanage, was very poor too) – Dickens was a political author …
LikeLike
I haven’t seen it but sounds like I should. I agree he was political, but I suppose all authors are to some extent.
LikeLike
Interesting piece of history
LikeLike
I like this, and I love Charles Dickens’ work. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
Very informative, thanks.
LikeLike