the Varden household, is rejected, and becomes a jailer at a women's prison. Simon Tappertit, his legs crushed in the riots, becomes a shoe-black. Gashford later commits suicide. Lord George Gordon is held in the Tower and is then judged to be innocent of inciting the riots. Sir John Chester, now a Member of Parliament, turns out to be the father of Hugh and is killed in a duel by Geoffrey Haredale. Haredale escapes to the continent where he ends his days in a monastery. Barnaby and his mother live out their years tending a farm at the Maypole Inn where Barnaby can work effectively due to his physical strength. Characters The Rudges – Barnaby, a simple man, his loving mother Mary, and his companion Grip, the loquacious raven The Willets – Old John, the keeper of the Maypole Inn, and his kindly son Joe The Vardens – Gabriel, the locksmith, his manipulative wife Martha, and his beautiful daughter Dolly Varden The Chesters – the villainous Sir John, Esquire, M.P. (Member of Parliament) and his innocent son Edward The Haredales – Mr Geoffrey Haredale (younger brother of the murdered Reuben), and his niece (Reuben's daughter) Emma Hugh – the sinister hostler of the Maypole Inn Lord George Gordon (a fictionalisation of the historical personality), his loyal servant John Grueby, and his obsequious and duplicitous secretary Mr Gashford Simon Tappertit – Gabriel Varden's apprentice, and Miggs, Mrs Varden's shrewish housemaid Ned Dennis – the hangman of Tyburn The mysterious stranger, ultimately revealed to be Barnaby Rudge, Sr, the steward and murderer of Reuben Haredale Stagg – the crafty blind man Solomon Daisy, 'Long' Phil Parkes, and Tom Cobb, Old John's three cronies Mr Langdale – Kindly vintner and distiller in Holborn based on an historical figure. The Catholic Langdale shelters Geoffrey Haredale from the rioters. His home and warehouse are burned in the riots, his stores of spirits are consumed by the mob. A very hearty old fellow and a worthy man, often described as a "purple-faced old vintner" Allusions and references in other works The character Grip was based on a raven kept as a pet by Dickens. The raven inspired Edgar Allan Poe to write his most famous poem, "The Raven". Dickens based the Maypole Tavern on the Kings Head, Chigwell, a 17th-century public house, situated on High Road, opposite the entrance to Roding Lane. Adaptations Thomas Higgie adapted