Darley House
Encyclopedia
The Darley House, located in Claymont, Delaware
along the Philadelphia Pike and Darley Road, is the former home of world-renowned illustrator Felix Octavius Carr Darley
(1821-1888).
Upon his marriage in 1859, F. O. C. Darley moved to Claymont, Delaware where he worked for the next 19 years. Built in the late 18th century and enlarged several times during the first half of the 19th century, the house was purchased by Darley in 1863 and renamed "The Wren’s Nest."
During his career, Darley made illustrations for works by Washington Irving
, Edgar Allan Poe
, Nathaniel Hawthorne
, Charles Dickens
, and James Fenimore Cooper
. Two of his most notable works were Irving’s "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle
." Charles Dickens
visited here for two weeks during his triumphant tour of America
in 1867. He died at his home-studio while finishing a Dickens portfolio in 1888.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973.
The Darley House is located across Darley Road from the Claymont Stone School
, and is directly opposite Archmere Academy
.
Claymont, Delaware
Claymont is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 9,220 at the 2000 census.-History:...
along the Philadelphia Pike and Darley Road, is the former home of world-renowned illustrator Felix Octavius Carr Darley
F. O. C. Darley
Felix Octavius Carr Darley often credited as F. O. C. Darley, was an American painter in watercolor and illustrator, known for his illustrations in works by well-known 19th century authors, including: James Fenimore Cooper, Charles Dickens, Mary Maples Dodge, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Washington...
(1821-1888).
Upon his marriage in 1859, F. O. C. Darley moved to Claymont, Delaware where he worked for the next 19 years. Built in the late 18th century and enlarged several times during the first half of the 19th century, the house was purchased by Darley in 1863 and renamed "The Wren’s Nest."
During his career, Darley made illustrations for works by Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
, Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...
, Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, and James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
. Two of his most notable works were Irving’s "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle
"Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by the American author Washington Irving published in 1819, as well as the name of the story's fictional protagonist. Written while Irving was living in Birmingham, England, it was part of a collection entitled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon...
." Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
visited here for two weeks during his triumphant tour of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1867. He died at his home-studio while finishing a Dickens portfolio in 1888.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973.
The Darley House is located across Darley Road from the Claymont Stone School
Claymont Stone School
The Claymont Stone School, also known as Naaman’s Creek School #1, is a historic schoolhouse built in 1805 on land donated by John Dickinson, located in Claymont, Delaware on the Philadelphia Pike just south of the Darley House. The school was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in...
, and is directly opposite Archmere Academy
Archmere Academy
Archmere Academy is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school of 474 students in Claymont, Delaware. It is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.-History:...
.
External links
- http://www.focdarley.org/
- http://www.focdarley.org/darleyHOUSE.html (Photos of the house, "before / after" renovation in 1991-93