The restoration of Charles Dickens’ Old Curiosity Shop

Surrounded by modern buildings is a very old building that claims to be the original Old Curiosity Shop made famous by Charles Dickens, but it’s not what it says it is.Although commonly known as the Old Curiosity Shop, it’s officially 13-14 Portsmouth Street and is a timber-framed building dating to the early 17th century. The land in the area was once owned by the Duchess of Portsmouth, hence, Portsmouth Street, possibly as a gift from King Charles II.
Originally built as two houses