Tour of the Middle Temple where Dickens was registered as a student barrister. 14.30. £12. Pre-booking essential.

CENTRAL FELLOWSHIP VISIT TO THE MIDDLE TEMPLE – WEDNESDAY 24^th AUGUST 2022

Members of the Fellowship will have the opportunity to visit the Middle Temple, Middle Temple Lane, London EC4Y 9AT. The visit will commence at 14.30 and will be limited to 20 members. The cost of the tour will be £12. Please see payment options below and also provide either an e-mail address or phone number via which you may be contacted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Dickens enrolled as a student barrister at the Middle Temple on 6^th December 1839. This in spite of the success of Pickwick, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. It seemed to be an insurance policy in case his career in literature failed. It was an ambition that Dickens had harboured as early as 1834 when he wrote to Henry Nethersole, solicitor and Steward of New Inn, on 13^th November that: “I am not a member of the legal profession; my whole time is at present devoted to literary pursuits, and I intend entering at the bar, as soon as circumstances will enable me to do so.” 

Dickens never ate a sufficient number of dinners to be called to the bar, and eventually resigned his membership of Middle Temple on 17 March 1855 when he wrote to the Benchers of the Inn explaining that his: “experience of his inability to become a law student in anything but in name respectfully begs permission to withdraw himself from the students’ list and to have his deposit money returned.”     

Payment Options :

1. Card – Please complete card details below and post to The Dickens Fellowship Membership Secretary, 48 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LX, England. Please mark your envelope – Middle Temple Visit.
2. Cheque – Please post £ Sterling cheque made payable to ‘The Dickens Fellowship’ to The Dickens Fellowship Membership Secretary, 48 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LX, England. Please mark your envelope – Middle Temple Visit.
3. Bank Transfer – to Account name “The Dickens Fellowship”, Account no. 80880337, Sort Code 20-41-41, SWIFT code: BUKBGB22, IBAN GB57 BUKB 20414180880337
4. Paypal – please pay to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Card details if paying by card

Amount Due: £12.00                                                                                         

Card Type: Visa/Mastercard                                         

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3 Digit Security Code (from back of card):                                 Card Expiry Date :                                                                                                 

Name on the card (Block Caps):     

Signature of cardholder :                                                                             Date:                   

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