Dr Samuel Johnson was a writer in the 18th century. In 1746 he was commissioned to write the Dictionary of the English Language and moved to a house in Gough Square to work on this immense project. My friend Kate and I toured this house which is still set up how it would have looked during the time Dr Johnson lived there.
Samuel Johnson was known to be a very robust character and a great conversationalist. He was a social person and counted many famous people as close friends including David Garrick (the actor) and Elizabeth Carter (the poet). The little cupboard on the right side of the photo below was the powder room, where one would sit to have their wig put on and powdered. It was also used to store wigs when not in use.
Samuel Johnson was a devoted tea drinker and was recorded to have drank 25 cups in one sitting while visiting a friend. The cups were not as large back then but even with a smaller cup that is a lot of tea! He commented about the occasion saying, "...I swallowed five-and-twenty cups of her tea, and did not treat her with as many words." Even on a typical day Johnson was known to drink 14 cups in one sitting. The cartoon below commemorates his love of tea.
The writing of the Dictionary of the English Language was a huge undertaking taking 8 years to complete and required 6 assistants. It listed 40,000 words defined in detail and included at least one quotation for each (often Milton or Shakespeare quotes). It was the most extensive and complex English dictionary at the time. Johnson was guilty of imposing his opinions on the definitions. For example, his definition of oats is "a grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people."
The house at 17 Gough Square was built at the end of the 17th century. It has four floors and many still have the original features from the period, even though it fell into disrepair in the later part of the 19th century and was badly damaged during bombings in World War II.
Along with the beautiful wood floors the house has an open staircase and the original 18th century anti-burglar devices on the front door.
Outside in the square is a bronze statue of Johnson's favorite cat, Hodge, sitting on a copy of Johnson's Dictionary. Also featured on the statue are two oyster shells, which was Hodge's main diet (oysters were very inexpensive back then). Johnson's love of his pet set him apart from his 18th century contemporaries. He was once quoted as saying, "...he is a very fine cat, a very fine cat indeed."
Thumbs up on this one, Rae!
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