He was born in East Street,Walworth,
on 16 April 1889.

He has been born in Chester Street, which runs between Kennington Road and lower Kennington Lane.

His early years were spent mostly within a comparatively small radius, encompassing Kennington, Brixton and the area leading up to Westminstre.

He was born not only into music-hall profession, Charles Chaplin Sir and his wife, Hannah but also into its residential suburbs.

Much of the area contained new, somewhat upmarket dwellings, which often forced Hannah and the boys into less salubrious accommodations.

The presence of such varied housing standards within such a small are has led some scholars-mistakenly to assume him to have overstated the deprivations of his childhood.

Charles and Hannah started to part in 1890, which left Hannah with his arrears.

Hannah's career have been troubled even in the late 1880s, and by 1894 her voice had begun to fail to a serious degree, thus her five-year-old Charlie became impromptu deputy for his ailing mother.

They made a living by doing odd jobs, Hannah primarily a seamstress. Syd went out selling papers.

In 1895, she was taken ill and was admitted to Lambeth Infirmary.

For the boys, Syd was sent to West Norwood Schools, while Charlie was in custody of Hannah's relatives.

After a while Hannah's health still did not improve sufficiently for the children to be returned.

In June 1896, the boys were transferred to the Hanwell Schools for Orphan and Destitute Children.

Charlie, who scarcely attended any form of school, received his basic education there, admitting later that Hanwell's treatment was not actually bad except for its strong discipline, administrated either by a cane or the birch, and often to boys who had committed no misdemeanour.

At the age of seven, he was flogged for a minor deed of which he was in any case innocent.

Another traumatic experience was having his head shaved during an outbreak of ringworm.

Syd left Hanwell for a sea career aboard the 'Exmouth'.

By the time of Syd's return in 1898, the Hanwell authorities had wearied of Chaplin sir's irregular payments; his brother, Spencer Chaplin, was the landlord of the nearby Queen's Head pub and settled the arrears. (Totaling 44 8s pounds).

Thus having decided that Chaplin Sr. should take charge of the boys, the authorities offered a reward of 1pound for information concerning his whereabouts.

Chaplin was traced to Kennington road on December 1897 and arrested. He paid a further sum of 5 6s 3d pounds, but requested that the boys should be discharged into Hannah's care. Hannah, by then living at 10 Farmers Road (presently the site of Kennington Park Gardens), was reunited with her two sons, but continuing money problems enforced frequent 'flits' and a return visit to Lambeth workhouse, from which the boys were sent back to West Norwood schools.

In September 1898, Hannah went insane and was admitted first to Lambeth Infirmary, then to Cane Hill Asylum.

Her boys were sent to live with Chaplin Sir at 289 Kennington Road, where Chaplin resided with his mistress, Louise, and their small son, who was four years younger than Charlie.

Hannah was discharged from the asylum in November, and was rejoined by her sons.

Charlie was attending Kennington Road School, but was not taught imaginatively, and absorbed very little.

At the end of 1898, Charlie was sent to join a touring clog-dancing troupe, 'The Eight Lancashire Lads'

His education continued at various schools whichever towns they happen to play.

He remained with them at least until the end of 1900.

Hannah had written to the troupe's employer, expressing concern for her son's health.

The boy was promptly dismissed because of her supposed fussing, but Hannah's fears became justified when Charlie developed asthma.

Hannah was still reliant on sweatshop sewing and barely able to earn money.

Chaplin sir died in May 1901.

Charlie tried various means of earning money, variously as flower seller, errand boy, doctor's boy, and a job at W.H. Smith's, glassblowing

The job finished when Charlie caught influenza and Hannah returned him to school.

Then Charlie devises another short-lived enterprise, this time by learning how to make toy boats.

Charlie went home one day to be told by neighbors that she had gone insane and she was taken to the infirmary again.

Charlie kept away from home, working among woodcutters.

Both Charlie and Syd were determined to follow theatrical careers.

Syd was less unfortunate in his theatrical enquiries. Charlie was on tour!

Cane hill pronounced Hannah recovered and joined her sons.

During the third tour, she sent news that, ironically, Louise had died in Lambeth Workhouse and that her son had been sent to the Hanwell school.

She visited him on several occasions but, suffering a relapse in her condition, was relapse in her condition, was readmitted to Cane Hill.

She remained there for several years until her sons could afford a private nursing home.

Sherlock homes took Charlie into 1906, after which he toured in Wall Pink 's sketch, 'Repairs', prior to joining Will Murray's Casey's Circus or 'The Casey Circus'

Syd, meanwhile, secured himself with the Karno Company, to which he introduced his younger brother, Charlie in 1908. From here, Chaplin's adult career may be said to begin, a career which, despite periodic turmoil, would prove to be perhaps the most extraordinary in entertainment history.

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