The Charles Dickens Museum - Virtual Tour
The Ground Floor > The Front Hallway > Gad's Hill Clock
Gad's Hill Clock
Gad's Hill Clock
This clock was in the hall of Gad's Hill Place, Rochester until Dickens died in 1870. In 1863, Dickens wrote to the maker John Bennett, the following amusing letter:

"My Dear Sir, Since my hall clock was sent to your establishment to be cleaned it has gone (as indeed it always has) perfectly well, but has struck the hours with great reluctance, and after 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 confidential person with whom the clock can confer, I think it may have something on its works it would be glad to make a clean breast of,

Faithfully yours,
C. Dickens."

To hear this clock's chime, click here.