We don't have any photos of this building yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?
Latitude: 51.4111 / 51°24'39"N
Longitude: 0.4578 / 0°27'27"E
OS Eastings: 571020
OS Northings: 170872
OS Grid: TQ710708
Mapcode National: GBR PPD.GJY
Mapcode Global: VHJLL.WSCM
Plus Code: 9F32CF65+C4
Entry Name: Gadshill Place
Listing Date: 27 August 1952
Last Amended: 26 July 1983
Grade: I
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1049037
English Heritage Legacy ID: 356772
Also known as: Gad's Hill Place
ID on this website: 101049037
Location: Gadshill, Gravesham, Kent, ME3
County: Kent
District: Gravesham
Civil Parish: Higham
Built-Up Area: Higham
Traditional County: Kent
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Kent
Church of England Parish: Higham St John the Evangelist
Church of England Diocese: Rochester
Tagged with: English country house
TQ 77 SW HIGHAM GRAVESEND ROAD
3/47
27.8.52 Gadshill Place
(formerly listed as
Gad's Hill Place,
Upper Higham)
I
Built in 1779 by Thomas Stevens former Mayor of Rochester. Owned and occupied by
Charles Dickens from 1857 until his death 1870. He wrote a number of his novels
here. The opening scenes of "Great Expectations" are set in the locality.
Walls of red brick with string course below parapet. Slated Mansard roof with central octagonal bell turret with ogee shaped lead roof, ball finial and weathervane. Sash windows without glazing bars. Projecting porch with columns and pilasters and round-headed entrance door with fanlight. On either side 2-storey 3-sided bays with cornices to each storey. Central first floor window with 3 lights and elliptical arch to centre light. To the south-east the dining room was extended and a large conservatory added by Dickens. Rear much altered and built out, but an original doorcase with pilasters, pediment, and semi-circular fanlight, stone steps and wrought iron handrail. Internally Dickens' study is preserved as he left it with comical invented book titles in a sham bookcase on the door and original bookcases lining the walls. The staircase has had alternate balusters removed and fretwork panels inserted. Hans Anderson stayed at the house in 1857. Dickens built a tunnel beneath the main road to give acces to an extra garden where he erected a Swiss chalet now in Rochester museum.
Listing NGR: TQ7099170882
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
Other nearby listed buildings
