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Question
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I am coming to Wiltshire/Bath for a few days and would very much like to visit places of interest with connections to Charles Dickens and also Lord Horatio Nelson.
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Question asked on
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23 March 2005
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Answer
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There are not many places in Wiltshire associated with either man.
Nelson visited Fonthill, with the Hamiltons, in 1800 and dined with William Beckford in his partially built Fonthill Abbey.
Standlynch House (in Downton) was bought by the Crown in 1805 for the family of Lord Nelson and renamed Trafalgar House. It was given to his brother, who also took the title, and with whom Nelson was not on very friendly terms.
Amesbury Abbey was owned by the Duke of Queensbury who befriended Lady Hamilton after Nelson's death. It is believed that she persuaded him to plant clumps of beech trees to represent the British and French ships at the Battle of the Nile of 1878. Most of these are still standing.
Part of Martin Chuzzlewit is set in Salisbury and Dickens did visit the city. He also went to Winterslow while he was there. The Blue Dragon is believed to be based upon the Green Dragon at Alderbury although the George Inn at Amesbury has claimed this honour.
The name Pickwick originated in Wiltshire although Dickens acquired it from the coaches of Moses Pickwick of Bath. Moses was a foundling from Pickwick, Corsham, and was called Moses as he was found in a basket and Pickwick from the place where he was found. Dickens saw his name on one of the coaches he ran and used it.
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