A good friend of Charles Dickens was philanthropist Angela Burdett Coutts.
You may have heard of Coutt’s bank, a private bank for the sickeningly wealthy (prospective clients need at least half a million in disposable funds!) As the grand-daughter of the Banks founder (Thomas Coutts) Angela inherited a vast fortune when she was just 23 (In 1837), making her the second richest woman in the country after Queen Victoria.

She then devoted herself to a supporting a vast array of charitable causes- over the course of her life, it is estimated that she donated around £400 million (Imagine what that would be in today’s money!)
Most notably she founded the RSPCA, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and also the NSPCC, the The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, both still going strong.
She also worked with Dickens to build homes for the poor and establish schools for disadvantaged children in the East End.

In her personal life after scandalising Victorian society for many years turning up to events with her lady companion Hannah in tow. She set tounges wagging again when at the age of 67, she became engaged to her secretary, William, who was just 29 years old! Queen Victoria even paid a visit to her home in Highgate to try and talk her out of it – she was not amused! However, despite the 38 year age gap the marriage appeared have been a happy one and lasted until her death in 1906, aged 92.
 
Find out more, join us for
'What the Dicken's?'
Dec 4th-14th
TICKETS ON SALE NOW

A city of London landmark Simpson’s Tavern (Bank) has been forced to closed its doors after 265 years, following a dispute with its greedy landlords, who pushed the restaurant into unmanageable debt by insisting on charging them full rent during lockdown when the business was non operational.

Although Simpson’s has bounced back since the pandemic, Tavor Holdings LTD the dubious Bermuda based company that owns the freehold has refused to allow the tavern time to get its finances in order and insisted they must leave the premises.

Simpson’s Tavern has been at the heart of city life since 1757 and was a great favorite of Charles Dickens (he actually mentions it by name in several of his novels.)

From Simpson’s website  …..‘We have sat on this site since 1757… before the U.S. A was born.  For 265 years we have stood, undaunted by fire, flood, world wars, plague (or pandemic – you choose) and even Liz Truss’s premiership. Today though we have been forced into closure by the actions of a cynical landlord. Carelessly removing a city institution that has been a part of its DNA’…..

There is kick starter you can donate to help save this little corner of London’s heritage from going the same way as so many others

 https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-our-simpsons-tavern#start

Everyones heard of Ebenezer Scrooge the Miserly anti hero of 'A Christmas Carol'.
But did you know that Dickens actually pinched the name from a Scottish tombstone?!
The story goes that, prior to giving a lecture in the Edinburgh 1841, Dickens headed to the Canongate for a time-killing stroll around the graveyard . It is here, as recorded in Dickens’ own diaries, that he stumbled upon a headstone in memoriam to “Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie - a meal man”, ( meaning Scroggie’s occupation was a corn merchant.) Dickens, misread the inscription as saying 'a mean man”, and proceeded to ponder how stingy the late Ebenezer must have been for that to be the only thing he was remembered for!
See link below for more info
​www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/how-edinburgh-gravestone-inspired-ebenezer-scrooge-609726

Can't believe its over for another year, honestly it goes by so fast!
Massive thank you to the crew who put in the time, creativity and dedication make it happen.
Also thanks to the the staff at the Freemasons arms, The Old white Bear and of Course the King Willie for putting up with us!
And of course thanks to everyone who joined us, we very much you enjoyed yourselves, and hope to see some of you again next year. 
But if you can't wait that long for your next Peculiar fix, we are currently gearing up to launch our brand new Dickens tour in Bank in December, see the 'Christmas page of our website for details...

Highlights from Halloween 2022

Also just to say a massive thanks to everyone who has taken the trouble to leave us a review, we really do appreciate them.
(Just going to leave a few here so you see all the nice things people have said about us!!)

Last year we created a fabulous Dicken's themed immersive Christmas tour around the winding alleys of Bank, It was going to be amazing and then Omicron happened, and well you know the rest!
This year we are attempting to bring it back, bigger, better and more Peculiar than ever!
Very much hope you can join us Dec 4th-15th Tickets on sale now!

After all that planning and rehersing we have finally kicked off this years edition of 'Haunted Hampstead'. Massive thank you to everyone who joined us this weekend (Especially those who braved the rain on sunday!) We really enjoyed meeting you all and we hope you all had as much fun as we did navigating the wilds of NW3! 
for anyone who would like to join us one evening there are still one or two tickets left, click HERE for info.

Another thing we have really been loving about this years edition of 'Haunted Hampstead' is our new pub stop 'The old white Bear' which opened earlier this year (Although Veteren Hampstead residents will be quick to point out that there had been a pub on that site for many years previously until it closed its doors in 2014.) The staff have been super friendly and welcoming, plus its a wonderfully cosy tradtional little pub which has a great drink selection and a roaring open fireplace, perfect for those chilly autumn nights. Make sure you check it out if you happen to be passing by ​www.theoldwhitebearhampstead.co.uk/