He may have been the most prolific writer of the Victorian era but

Charles Dickens clearly loved a bit of art and craft in his spare time, as the discovery of a room-dividing screen decorated by the great man shows.

Hard times: 160 years of old varnish and dirt is carefully lifted off by hand and … human saliva (Picture: BNPS)

The room-dividing uses 800 illustrations and was beyond the expectations of historians â who are now cleaning it with gel and saliva.Â

It dates back to 1850, when Dickens and his actor friend William Macready wanted to make something to educate Macreadyâs children.

They spent hours leafing through magazines to find famous faces before sticking them to a wood and canvas frame.




Their Whoâs Who of the great and the good included famous historical figures such as the Duke of Wellington, Napoleon and Isaac Newton.

Great historical events and popular paintings also made the cut.

Treasure: The 2.1m (7ft) screen will take several months to clean (Picture: BNPS)

Restorer Rebecca Donnan said: âIt really is a lovely thing and it is remarkable the difference when the surface grime is removed.

âThe varnish has discoloured and it has been in a room with coal fire and people smoking. Iâm cleaning it with a special gel and also saliva. Saliva is viscous and has a special enzyme that helps remove dirt.â

Just like one of Dickensâ novels, the screen held its audience in its thrall. A burn hole caused by a candle shows how someone had been looking at it too closely during the night.

The descendants of Macready recently gave the screen to the Friends of Sherborne House, his old home in Dorset, and it is being conserved at a cost of £15,000.