Page 6 - PBCOctober2019

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 16 No.2 October 2019 !6

There is so much to see in the museum, and it’s difficult to pick on any specific item, but of
interest to many were the two clocks, and the lectern that Dickens had built to use on his
travels when lecturing both at home and in the USA. The first clock in the hallway actually
came from Dickens later house in Gad’s Hill, and is a mahogany 8-day chiming clock made by
John Bennett of Cheapside in 1860. In 1863 Dickens wrote to Bennett:

“ My Dear Sir, Since my hall clock was sent to your establishment to be cleaned it has gone (as
indeed it always had) perfectly well, but has struck the hours with great reluctance, and aNer
enduring internal agonies of a most distressing nature, it has now ceased striking altogether.
Though a happy release for the clock, this is not convenient to the household. If you can send
down any confident person with whom the clock can confer, I think it may have something on
its works that it would be glad to make a clean breast of.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens “

The clock in the dining room was made by William Towney of Bristol in c1724, and was the
inspiration for the central character of Pickwick Papers, as it belonged to Moses Pickwick
(is there a club soubriquet for him? Ed), the proprietor of a line of stage-coaches that ran
between London & Bath. The clock was left to Mr Pickwick’s landlady, one Mrs Mary Hancock,
and was bought by the Dickens Fellowship in 1926 and given to the museum.

After the visit almost the whole contingent
adjourned to the very crowded Ciao Bella Italian
restaurant for a great and very lively conclusion to
the evening.

I hope that everyone who participated in the visit
found it to be of great interest, some were saying
they will return for a further visit with friends/
family. We owe a great vote of thanks to Cindy and
her team – including Jaanuja who helped me make
the arrangements.

My message to all Pickwickians - if you get the opportunity, go and visit this incredible
Museum……….. Samuel Pickwick Esq