Lombard Street (Dickens-era site), London

Lombard Street, a locale that presently houses many financial institutions and stands as an affluent residential area, had a notable history in the 19th century. At 1 Lombard Street, it was home to Smith, Payne & Smiths Bank. The bank's manager, George Beadnell, resided next door at 2 Lombard Street. In 1831, Beadnell and his wife hosted a dinner for friends and the daughters' acquaintances, which included a 19-year-old Charles Dickens, who was on the verge of commencing his career as a parliamentary reporter.

Of particular note was Beadnell's third daughter, Maria, who captivated the young Dickens. He vividly described his infatuation, likening it to a "captured butterfly" pinned to the black velvet trimming on one of Maria's dresses. The young man would make late-night pilgrimages to Lombard Street just to catch a glimpse of the place where Maria slumbered. His devotion to her endured for four years until 1833 when Maria returned from abroad, and their relationship came to an end.

Maria partially served as the inspiration for Dora Spenlow, David's wife in "David Copperfield". In real life, she resurfaced in 1855 as Mrs. Winter, reaching out to Dickens for a meeting. Anticipation ran high, but Dickens was profoundly disappointed, finding Maria "toothless, fat, old and ugly". She made another fictional appearance as Flora Finching, Arthur Clennam's former love, in "Little Dorrit".

In Dickens's first novel, "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club" (more commonly known as "The Pickwick Papers"), the narrative revolves around a group of men journeying across England and lodging in various inns, including the George and Vulture on Lombard Street, during their stay in London.