alice-in-wonderland – Janet's Adventures in Waterstones

Llandudno is a popular seaside town and holiday destination on the Creuddyn Peninsula on the north coast of Wales. The town is known for its well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture, long, sandy beaches and pier, the latter of which opened in 1877 and was given Grade II listed status in 1969. Being on a peninsula, the town has beaches on both the north and west sides of the headland. Apparently Kashmiri goats can often be found wandering the town – they are descended from a pair presented by the Shah of Persia to Queen Victoria, but sadly we didn’t see any! The Waterstones is located in a modern building in the main shopping area.

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Llandudno map

The Alice in Wonderland connection

Alice Liddell, on whom Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Dodgson) based his literary character Alice, spent many summers in the town in her family’s holiday home, and whilst evidence of his visit is anecdotal, it is suggested that Carroll visited the family there. The Prime Minister David Lloyd George unveiled a statue of the White Rabbit in 1933 in Carroll’s honour, and the nonsense poem The Walrus and the Carpenter is said to have been inspired by two rocks of the same names at West Shore in the town.

There is also a town trail of Alice characters by wood sculptor Simon Hedger in celebration of the 125^th anniversary of the book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

North Shore

Guildford is the county town of Surrey and sits on the river Wey. It’s known for its historic cobbled High Street and its famous 17^th century Guildhall clock. The town also boasts a Norman castle with panoramic views of the area. The grounds at Guildford Castle opened as public gardens in 1888 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 and are free to visit – there is a modest charge to go inside the castle. On the outskirts of Guildford is a modern cathedral which dominates the town’s skyline. The Waterstones is located in the main High Street, and was formerly a Dillon’s bookshop before the entire Dillon’s brand was renamed Waterstones after being taken over by the then owner of Waterstones, HMV in 1998.

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Guildford map

Lewis Carroll’s and Guildford

Charles Dodgson, who as Lewis Carroll created the ‘Alice’ books, was a frequent visitor to the town where his sisters lived, and the park located near the former family home, The Chestnuts, is the site of a statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass which is by the sculptor Jeanne Argent and was unveiled in 1990. At the bottom of the town is a second Alice statue. This one is from 1984 is called Alice and the White Rabbit, and is by local sculptor Edwin Russell. It is based on the opening scene from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland when Alice spies the White Rabbit. Lewis Carroll died in January 1898 whilst visiting his sisters and is buried at Mount Cemetery in the town.