Information for Schools

Charles Dickens was born in this house in 1812 and lived there for the first few months of his life. The house has been extensively restored and is decorated and furnished in the Regency style appropriate to his parents John and Elizabeth Dickens.

There are three furnished rooms: the parlour; the dining room and the bedroom where Charles was born. A small exhibition room shows a range of prints illustrating the works of Charles Dickens and a number of personal items are also on display, together with the couch on which he died. Information available in 10 languages.

Additional educational advice is available from the Education Officer on Portsmouth +44 (0)23 9282 7261.

Bookings may be made online.

National Curriculum and Resources

The Birthplace is suitable for a wide range of National Curriculum work.

Ideas for Coverage of a Broad and Balanced Curriculum

English
Read and understand a range of texts - the story of the house and extracts from Dickens' novels. Be able to distinguish between fact and fiction. Be able to identify types of texts by looking at their content, structure, vocabulary, layout and purpose.

Geography
Look at maps. Investigate places and scales. Focus on geographical questions. Where is it? What is it like? How and why has it changed?

Mathematics
By looking at the house, its locality and its contents classify 2-D and 3-D shapes. Understand the properties of reflective symmetry and tessellation. Collect, interpret and represent data.

Art
Identify different materials and methods used by artists and craftspeople. Recognise the ways in which art, craft and design reflect the time and place in which they were made. Express ideas and opinions using the correct vocabulary.

History
Look at a middle class house trapped in a time warp.
-Artefacts (building and contents) during a visit to the museum or within the classroom using the School Loans Service.
By using Primary Source Material each key element of the National Curriculum can be covered.
It is possible to find out who lived in the house throughout Queen Victoria's reign and research the history of the Pearce family.
-Documents and Printed Source Material.
Rate Books
Census Returns
Parish Records of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials
Wills and Abstracts of Title
Kelly's Directory
Lists of Burgesses etc.

Technology
Investigate and evaluate products, the resources and techniques.

For further information please contact us or
Tel: +44 (0)23 9282 7261 Fax: +44 (0)23 9287 5276

Booking a Group Visit

For all enquiries and group visits please telephone Visitor Services direct line +44 (0)23 9229 6905. (An answering machine is available to leave a message at any time of day when staff are not in the office) or you can book no on-line.

Length of Stay and Group Sizes

The typical visit time is 20 - 30 minutes per 12-5 people. Because the house is very small, the maximum recommended number arriving in a group at any one time should not exceed 30. We will then admit 12-15 in at a time. A teacher/pupil ratio of at least 1:10 is essential. (When school groups are in the museum, the behaviour of the children or students is the responsibility of the teacher in charge).

Payment

No admission charge is made for UK schools booked in advance. Payment for other groups is made on the day of your visit. Cheques payable to 'Portsmouth City Council', Credit cards: MasterCard or Visa.