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Charles Dickens wrote about this ferry house in Oliver Twist – now it's for sale as a luxury home

This renovated ferry house on the River Thames is perfect for literature lovers

charles dickens and ferry house for sale featured in oliver twist
(Image credit: Getty Images / DEXTERS)

When Charles Dickens published Oliver Twist in 1838, he never could've predicted what the Sunbury Village Ferry House he wrote about would become.

The light-filled space on the River Thames is now a four-bedroom home, currently on the market and listed by DEXTERS for £2,250,000 (approximately $2,840,000). A brilliant renovation idea turned the historic property in Sunbury Village on the outskirts of London from an antique ferry house into a stylish modern paradise. We can't get enough of the home's innovative, contemporary design

sunbury house

(Image credit: DEXTERS)

sunbury home on the river thames mentioned in oliver twist

(Image credit: DEXTERS)

The 3700 square foot home is a Sunbury Village landmark with a rich history. In fact, Charles Dickens immortalized the property in Chapter 21 of his 19th-century novel Oliver Twist writing: 'As they passed Sunbury Church, the clock struck seven. There was a light in the ferry-house window opposite which streamed across the road and threw into more somber shadow a dark yew tree with graves beneath it.' Despite the heritage, the inside of the home looks brand new.

The first floor reveals an open-plan reception, kitchen, and dining room. The beauty of the surroundings is emphasized by high, vaulted ceilings with stylish black beams against the bright white walls. An expansive porch extends the living space out of doors, making it just as easy to entertain in the expansive living room as it is to host people on the wide porch.

reception room

(Image credit: DEXTERS)

reception room at ferry house

(Image credit: DEXTERS)

sunbury house porch

(Image credit: DEXTERS)

Aside from the show-stopping entryway, the modernized home includes four stylish bedrooms. The principal bedroom includes a walk-in wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom. Even better, it includes access to a wraparound balcony with river views.

bedroom in sunbury house

(Image credit: DEXTERS)

sunbury house kitchen

(Image credit: DEXTERS)

'With its rich heritage, commanding riverside vistas, and a private mooring, the Ferry House stands as a true masterpiece. For numerous years, this exceptionally distinctive property has held its place as a prominent landmark in the village. Today, it has undergone meticulous renovations, transforming into a waterside retreat that presents a truly rare living opportunity,' Nick Wozniak, director of Dexters' Sunbury office tells H&G.

For literature lovers looking for their next home, this Charles-Dickens-approved Ferry House may be the perfect choice. Our guide to renovating a house offers advice on how to create your own modern masterpiece in a historic setting so you can get started on your own Sunbury House.

Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.