The City of Oxford has a unique and inspiring Architecture. Walking the streets of the city is living within movies and it is not difficult to understand where the inspirations came from J. R. R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), J. Rowling (Harry Poter) and Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland).
Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), writer of Alice in Wonderland, lived much of his life in Oxford and brought much inspiration from this city in books and stories. Lewis always enjoyed strolling and playing with children and went on a stroll along the River Thames with his little friend of 10 years to Alice Pleasance Liddell in 1862 that he began to tell and inspire the story of a little girl who followed a white rabbit and ended up falling into a hole to discover a fantastic world. The story was so interesting and entertaining that Alice Liddell asked him to write the story. He presented the finished story to her for Christmas in 1864 and Alice in Wonderland was published in 1865.
Alice’s character in Wonderland was born in the city of dreamy spirits and as such there are many Alice in Wonderland locations that can be found in Oxford. Follow and enjoy yourself.
Alice in Wonderland in Oxford
Folly Bridge
Lewis Carroll told Alice’s Story for the first time on a boat trip down the Thames. The Boat that sailed by the river began its trip in this point, where at the moment we have the pub The Head of River, in Oxford. Right near this point, you can rent a rowing boat just like Lewis Carroll did, or you can rent a punt (much more Oxford these days). Salter’s Steamers is a boat rental company near the bridge that rents boats since 1858. Maybe the company that rented the boat for the inspirational ride.
Christ Church
Christ Church is the most famous College of Oxford because of its greatness and the locations of Harry Potter in the city of Oxford. It is also where Lewis Carroll met Alice Liddell and has many present details related to Alice at various points of the constructions for those more observant.
To visit the college and know all the details, visit our post on the college Christ Church.
Alice’s Window at Christ Church
In the Christ Church dining room, there is a small tribute to Alice in Wonderland in the stained glass window. In the lower left corner of one of the stained glass panels is a little Alice in Wonderland, with long blond hair in her iconic blue dress. In the center of the panel is a girl’s face and this is Alice Liddell.
This stained glass is in the middle of the hall, above a fireplace. There are 8 stained glass panels and Alice is in the lower left corner of the upper left panel, If you do not find ask for a guardhouse where you can find Alice!
Firewood Support at the Christ Church Fireplace
In the school cafeteria there are two large fireplaces, one on each side. Beside the fireplaces a brass object with a head over a long neck that holds the firewood inside the fire, which was the inspiration for Alice’s long neck in Chapter 5, “Counsels of a Caterpillar.”
Come on, my head is finally free! Alice said in a razer tone, which turned into alarm at another time when she discovered that her shoulders were nowhere: all she could see, when she looked down, was an immense length of the neck that looked like rise like a stem of a sea of green leaves that lay far below her.
Chapter 5, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Alice’s Door
A door in high school served as inspiration for a part of the first chapter of the story, where Alice struggles to get through a door with a beautiful garden on the other side but she always encounters several problems, either by her size or by the door key.
The original door is in Christ Church and is a symbol of much mystery. Unfortunately the door is not open to the public, as only the Rector is allowed to cross it. It connects to Deanery and Cathedral Gardens, which are private.
Lewis Carroll’s collection in the library
With interest in keeping Lewis Carroll’s memories alive, there is a library with many of his original writings, drawings, autograph letters, and manuscripts in his library. Unfortunately, the library is closed to the public, but many Lewis Carroll collections have been scanned. You can see some images related to the creation of Alice in Wonderland here.
Alice’s Store
Alice’s store is a shop specializing in Alice’s products in the Country of the Marvilhas in Oxford. The building was built in the 15th century and was a Victorian candy store. In fact, that’s where Alice Liddell bought candy as a child and appears in Through the Looking Glass!
The little shop was dubbed “Alice’s Shop” as the stories became well-known, even if it continued as a grocery store. Since the mid-1960s, the store started selling Alice’s memories in Wonderland. The store is now a treasure trove of gifts, souvenirs and themed keepsakes from Alice in Wonderland.
Oxford City Museum
The city museum of Oxford tells the story of the city of Oxford and its residents. The museum has an exclusive area for Alice and other related things. Here you can find unique and personal objects belonging to Alice Liddell and Charles Dodgson. Here you will find Alice’s business card case, scissors and stamp. There is also Dodgson’s pocket watch, which no longer works and stopped at 1:17.
Museum of Natural History
In the museum of natural history, there is a Dodo painting by the Dutch painter Jan Savery, who is believed to have inspired Lewis Carroll, in addition to a precious example of the Dodo that was acquired in 1860. The Dodo was a naturally extinct bird.
“What I was going to say,” said the Dodo in an offended tone, “was that the best thing to dry us would be a race of the Caucasus.”
Chapter 3, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
FUN FACT: The Dodo also represents Dodgson himself as he had a stutter and presented himself as “Do-Do-Dodgson”
Alice’s Day
Every year the first Saturday of July is celebrated as Alice’s Day, which is coordinated by The Story Museum in Oxford, a unique and experimental museum for children. With Tea Party, storytelling and Mad Hatter games, plus the party of a Mad Hatter (for adults).
Inspirations for this post:
https://teatimeinwonderland.co.uk
Viajar é conhecer lugares diferentes. Nossa proposta não é apenas viajar para os locais, é ir além. É passar um período maior, interagir com as pessoas da cidade e sentir a cultura e o dia a dia de cada local. Da lista de países que conheci, optei por morar em alguns lugares para vivenciar a experiência com mais profundidade e poder compartilhar com mais detalhes e exatidão além de descobrir os segredos de cada local, não se limitando aos pontos turísticos mais famosos.
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