An historic 150-year-old Dickens letter will be displayed in Medway.

Written by Charles Dickens' first son, Charlie Dickens, and dated back to 1870, it has been donated to The Guildhall Museum in Rochester.

Medway Council announced the news today, on what would have been Charles Dickens' 211th birthday.

The letter from the "Office of All the Year Round" is dated June 29, 1870, the month of the author's death.

It is addressed to Francis M Webb Esq, Hon Secretary, Rochester Book Society, City Coffee House, Rochester and thanks the society for its "kind address of condolence".

The envelope and the letter feature a heavy black border to mark his death.

Stephen Downham, a member of the Pickwick Bicycle Club and the Dickens Pickwick, donated the letter to The Guildhall Museum in Rochester High Street as he wanted to find it a new home before moving abroad.

Last week, Charles Dickens' great, great grandsons Harry Whinney and Ian Dickens delivered the letter to the museum.

It will be put on display in the council’s The Making of Mr Dickens exhibition in High Street, Rochester, later this year.

The exhibition explores the relatively unknown side of Dickens’ life including his happy and adventurous childhood in Chatham, the days he spent living hand to mouth in London and his return to Higham, near Rochester, as well as the inspiration he found from living in Medway.

The exhibition was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen Consort, formerly HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, in February 2022.

Cllr Howard Doe, deputy leader of Medway Council and portfolio holder for community services, said: “I would like to thank Stephen Downham for donating this letter to our exhibition.

"It will make an excellent addition to The Making of Mr Dickens exhibition which celebrates one of England’s finest writers.

"The exhibition is the starting point for residents, and visitors, wishing to discover more about Dickens’ fascinating life as well as his inspirations and connections to Medway.”