Dickens’ Death Collar & More: A Glimpse into His Final Days
Hold onto your top hats, folks, because a truly fascinating, if slightly morbid, piece of literary history has just landed at London's Charles Dickens Museum! We're talking about the very shirt collar Charles Dickens was wearing when he suffered his fatal stroke in 1870. The legendary author, just 58, shocked the world with his sudden passing, and there's even a juicy whisper that he might not have been at his stately Gad's Hill Place, but rather at his lover Ellen Ternan's house in Peckham, when tragedy struck. Now, this deeply yellowed linen collar, once owned by famous Dickensian actor Bransby Williams, is taking its permanent place on display, offering a chillingly intimate connection to his final moments.
But the collar isn't alone in giving us a peek into Dickens' private world. His former dressing room at the Doughty Street museum now houses a treasure trove of personal effects. Imagine seeing the black silk stockings he wore as part of his “fancy dress” outfit to a formal reception just months before his death – a wry description from the man himself! You'll also find an intriguing collection of his grooming essentials: six gleaming silver razors (yes, despite that iconic beard, he shaved daily!), a delicate perfume bottle, silver candle snuffers, and a poignant gold locket holding locks of hair and photos of Dickens and his son, Henry.
While all these items paint a vivid picture of the literary giant, it's undoubtedly that final, fateful collar that will capture imaginations. Much like Nelson's blood-stained coat at the National Maritime Museum, Dickens' “death collar” is poised to become one of London's most compellingly curious, and perhaps a little spooky, museum exhibits. It’s a powerful, tangible link to the man behind the masterpieces, inviting us to ponder the sudden end of a colossal mind.
Today, visitors can explore the Charles Dickens Museum, a popular dickens london attraction that showcases artifacts from the author's life and final years.
During Dickens' era, death government jobs included roles like coroners and undertakers who were employed by local authorities to handle mortality records.
Today, literary enthusiasts can visit London Dickens landmarks to trace the author's final steps through the city he loved so dearly.
Today, many dickens london museums display artifacts and personal belongings that offer visitors intimate insights into the celebrated author's final years.
Scholars studying in London Dickens archives have uncovered fascinating details about the author's deteriorating health during his final months.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/museums-and-galleries/charles-dickens-shirt-collar-death-stroke)
