Charles Davis writes “For 25 years, the Charles Dickens Centre in Rochester, Kent, has paid tribute to Britain’s foremost author of the Victorian era.
However, a decline in visitor numbers has led to a plans by Medway Council to close the centre in October and relocate Rochester Library to the site.
The council says it is not financially viable to keep Eastgate House open.
News of the closure has been greeted by a mixture of resigned understanding and confusion by Dickens enthusiasts.
Lee Auld, curator at Dickens House in nearby Broadstairs, said she was “mystified” by the decision.
She said visitors to Dickens House – once the home of a woman on whom Dickens based the character Betsey Trotwood in his novel David Copperfield – had expressed concern about the closure.
“It doesn’t make sense – Dickens is incredibly popular and we have seen visitor numbers increase significantly over the past four years, so I can’t believe it wouldn’t be financially viable to keep the centre open,” she said.
“I don’t think Dickens will ever be forgotten but I think it’s important to question the loss of a museum that recalls our heritage.”
More at
The BBC.”
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