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In Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula, Carfax Abbey (House) is the location in London secured by solicitor Jonathan Harker. Unbeknownst to Harker, Dracula purchases the property so that he might store his coffins containing the precious earth of Transylvania. Dracula must sleep in these coffins filled with dirt in order to preserve his strength.
A real Carfax Abbey does not exist, but there is quite a bit of discussion among Dracula scholars about Stoker’s inspiration for the estate. Some say Carfax House/Abbey was inspired by St. Mary’s Cathedral in Whitby, Yorkshire. Others say the setting was inspired by Purfleet House, located east of London in Essex. Although the house no longer exists, a part of the wall remains, and a plaque marks its whereabouts. St. Stephens Church now occupies that ground, and much of the demolished Purfleet House material was used to build it.
If you’re interested in catching a glimpse of the church or the wall with its plaque, check out the London History Group site HERE.
Carfax Abbey has inspired the imaginations of many artists over the years, and even the creation of a band with same name (HERE performing “Cry Little Sister” at the Endless Night Vampire Ball in New Orleans, 2013).
I’ve always loved the creepy, gothic setting suggested by the novel and the movie adaptations.
What’s your favorite setting for a novel or a movie?
Interesting post, those abbey’s look like they belong in a Dracula style story.
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Thanks, Iain. I think one of them is actually located in Whitby, Yorkshire. But I love all abbey ruins.
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I am interested in finding out more information where I could find Dracula’s whereabouts in Whitby and to find how to resign his family’s name and whereabouts in Whitby he is living at the moment because I willing to sacrifice a life to borrow of a life of another to carry on as normal in every day life to study the life of Dracula’s past and experience what it means to be known as the real vampire in the classic film that made Bram Stokers novels and classic horror movies to come alive in Whitby abbey finding out where the legend of Dracula’s life takes me so I would like to take on a tour of finding how to live in the footsteps of Dracula because I love to have the name Dracula for the future I would like some one to rebuild the abbey in Dracula’s name back to its former glory as Bram Stoker as for told inside of his own novels please let his novels return to Whitby abbey as it is seen in the classical movies and as seen in Bram Stoker s Dracula novels
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I love creepy, gothic settings in book. They are fun to conjure up imagines in your head for. I also love dystopian worlds.
Once Upon a Time
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Me too. That’s why I started writing gothic fiction, actually. I love those creepy settings. I used to say I didn’t like dystopian novels, but then I realized that I liked The Hunger Games, The Handmaid’s Tale, 1984… so I guess I like dystopian novels. LOL!
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Sometimes I get distracted reading a story (or watching a movie) that’s set in a place with which I’m familiar. I’m all “That’s not real.” or “I remember that.” and so forth and so on.
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Yes, that’s happens to me too. Especially if it’s set in a school. Tv shows are notorious for unrealistic school settings. Thanks for stopping by!
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I love these gothic buildings, so full of character and I inspiration.
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