House that inspired Scrooge struggles for cash to survive

THE historic North Yorkshire building where Charles Dickens was inspired to write his famous classic A Christmas Carol is set to close unless it is given a £2,000 lifeline in the next six months.

Malton’s Charles Dickens Society, which runs Scrooge’s Counting House, on Chancery Lane, needs to secure enough funds by April to continue leasing the building from the Fitzwilliam Estate.

However, the organisation, which runs the building on a voluntary basis, faces a constant battle for money, with many members forced to contribute out of their own pockets to keep it open.

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Dedicated to putting the market town on the map, they have opened the tourist attraction, which features displays on Dickens and Victorian life, every Saturday over the past few months.

But despite their efforts they have failed to attract enough financial backing, with an open day, organised in a bid to raise funds, ending in disappointment when only one person turned up.

The society’s secretary, Linda McCarthy, said: “We invited people from Malton to come and have a look around and see what we were trying to achieve. All we needed was 20 people to give us £100, but just one person came.

“It is really frustrating. This summer it was really starting to take off and each week more people came than before. Considering some of the problems we have had, I think we’ve done a fantastic job but it’s a cruel world and at the end of the day it usually comes down to pounds and pence.”

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The building has remained unchanged since 1843 when Dickens wrote the novel using the offices of his solicitor friend, Charles Smithson, after visiting him there several times. It was used as an accountant’s store for many years until it was taken over by the society.

“It has the potential to attract tourists to Malton and help its economy,” said Mrs McCarthy.