A MUSEUM which celebrates Malton’s link with Charles Dickens is to close.

The Charles Dickens (Malton) Society has announced it is to terminate its lease of the Counting House Museum in Chancery Lane, said to be Dickens’ inspiration for Scrooge’s famous counting house.

The lease will end in April 2018, but the museum will open for the last time in December.

Linda McCarthy of the society said it was with bitter regret that they were closing the museum. “We’ve had some great fun and some wonderful visitors,” she said.

The annual cost of more than £2,000 required for running the museum has been met by members of the society giving paid talks all over Yorkshire, as well as opening the museum itself to visitors.

Visitors’ donations and a range of items for sale, including the second-hand book cart, have all enabled the bills to be paid - but fundraising has become a strain for the volunteers.

In a statement the society said: “For nine years, the museum has celebrated Dickens’s connection to Malton and his friendship with Charles Smithson, a local solicitor.

“The premises, in Chancery Lane, is the only building still accessible to the public that Dickens visited during his many excursions to our area.

“The museum has welcomed thousands of visitors from around the world, the UK and the local area.

“All its visitors have enjoyed the various displays celebrating Dickens’s Yorkshire connection along with the Smithson family’s friendship with the great author.

“The society would like to thank the many benefactors who have enabled it to develop the museum over the years.

“These include Ian Wray, Ryedale Council, Norton Town Council especially its Town Clerk Ros Tierney, Helen at the Hidden Monkey Cafe, Malcolm Chalk at the Shopping Mall, Sid Woodhams and John Stone from the Woodhams-Stone Collection, the Two Ridings Foundation, the Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate, ‘Badger’ Billinge and Stewart Frank, along with many local residents.

“All have contributed either financial support, documents and artefacts or acts of kindness and consideration.”

The society itself will continue with its monthly members’ meetings and performances of its talks, and it will retain its website.

The museum, which will be closed in November, will open for the final three times on December 2, 9 and 16. On December 9, Brian Oxberry will be performing his adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the museum at 2pm and 3pm.