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Question

Does the place, Pickwick, in Corsham have anything to do with Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens?

Question asked on

04 July 2011

Answer

It is believed that Charles Dickens took the word 'Pickwick' from the coaches of Moses Pickwick of The White Hart at Bath. Moses had been found abandoned at Pickwick and taken into Corsham Workhouse. He was given the Biblical name 'Moses' after a much earlier abandoned baby and 'Pickwick' from the place where he was found. As a coach proprietor he had his name and portrait on the doors of his coaches, which doubtless appealed to Dickens.

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