Darley House, National Historic Place in Claymont, Delaware, US.
Darley House is a residence built in the late 18th century with multiple additions constructed during the first half of the 19th century in Claymont, Delaware. The structure sits at the intersection of Philadelphia Pike and Darley Road, directly across from Archmere Academy and near Claymont Stone School.
Felix Octavius Carr Darley purchased the property in 1863 and called it The Wren's Nest, remaining there until his death in 1888. The house served as the home of a major American artist during the 19th century whose work shaped how literary texts appeared to readers.
Charles Dickens visited this house in 1867 as a guest of its owner, marking it as a meeting place for 19th-century literary figures. The residence reflects how artists of that era lived and interacted with the writers whose works they brought to life.
The property sits at a major intersection making it easy to locate on the street, with nearby academic buildings serving as helpful reference points. Keep in mind that this is private property so public access may be limited or require advance planning.
Darley created illustrations here for works by Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and James Fenimore Cooper. His artistic output from this house essentially defined how readers visualized some of America's most celebrated literary works.
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