Dr Johnson his House in Gough Square and Hodge his Cat (AW27)

Welcome to 17, Gough Square, just off London’s Fleet Street. Built in 1698, it was home, from 1748 to 1759, to Dr Samuel Johnson, writer, essayist, poet, biographer and author of what has been described as “one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship” – A Dictionary of the English Language – which was compiled with the help of six assistants, in the garret.
Other occupants of this busy household included Miss Anna Williams who acted as Johnson’s housekeeper, Francis Barber, his Jamaican-born manservant and his cats, Hodge (his favorite) and Lily. Among the visitors was his great friend, the actor David Garrick.