Presentation to Leather Bottle pub in Cobham of a strand of Charles Dickens' hair

by Thom Morris

tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

A rare strand of Dickens’ hair has been donated to the Leather Bottle pub in Cobham.

Dickens enthusiasts were given the chance to get their hands on the author’s hair – a single strand – as part of the £100,000 campaign to save the writer’s chalet at Eastgate House in Rochester.

Cobham resident Ian Rons, who won the piece of hair in a raffle, donated it to the pub – which has strong links with Dickens.

It is mentioned in Pickwick Papers and Dickens stayed at the pub in real life.

Dickens lived at Gad’s Hill Place at Higham, just a few miles’ walk across the fields from the inn.

The hair was given to the Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship by Fraser’s Autographs in London, which has a selection of original cheques, letters and other memorabilia in the hand of Charles Dickens.

The hair originally belonged to Georgina Hogarth, sister of Catherine, whom Dickens married in 1836.

The couple separated in 1858 but Georgina shared Dickens’ home from 1842 until his death in 1870 – a fact which caused scandalous rumours about their relationship.

Mayor of Medway Cllr Vaughan Hewett, who joined Ian to hand the hair over at The Street pub, drew the winning ticket during the Rochester Christmas Dickens Festival.

A similar lock went on sale earlier this year for £495.