Coincidences beside the River Thames

I am indulging in a bit of "personal" stuff in this blog and a coincidence that is personal too! If you have been reading our blog over the last few years you will know that we have found Lewis Carroll near waterways all over England!

Alice's Shop Creative commons licence Andrew RobertsAlice's Shop (creative commons licence, Andrew Roberts)

Today I went into "Alice's Shop" - 83 St Aldates. I have long had a fascination for "Alice in Wonderland" - going way back into my childhood!

At Christmas in 1964 my brother gave me a present of the facsimile of the original "Alice's Adventures Under Ground" written and presented to Alice Liddell as a memory of their rowing expeditions on the River Thames. I still have the book - by my right hand as I write! I have just found it on-line - amazing! There are so many Alice websites, my bookmarks are working overtime!

River Bank above Godstow LockGodstow, river bank above the lock and ruins

Lewis Carroll possibly told the story to keep the Liddell children from being too bored on the row upstream to Godstow, as this section is not as scenic as their usual row downstream was. July 4th 1862 was one of the few occasions they went upstream; most of the story was told that day and Alice persuaded Lewis Carroll to write it down for her.

Alice's Shop (then a sweet shop) was frequented by the real Alice and features in "Alice Through the Looking Glass" as The Old Sheep Shop. It was fascinating - but too commercial by half! However I did buy a marvellous book - and here is the coincidence - written by a narrowboater! Mark Davies is a local historian and the Chairman of the Lewis Carroll Society. "Alice in Waterland" is about Lewis Carroll and the River Thames in Oxford.

Looking back I have blogged about Lewis Carroll six times (now seven!) over the last three years - charting our cruising around the inland waterways as he kept popping up again and again! WE first encountered him in Daresbury, his birth place.

Lewis Carroll WindowLewis Carroll Window in Daresbury Church (click to see the Alice figures)

So onto the next personal bit ...

Again, I have mentioned Corpus Christi before - the Oxford College my brother went to.

Corpus Christi CollegeCorpus Christi

Today after 53 years I returned! I was 3 (now you can work out my age!) when I visited to see David. This evening we went to an Oxford Literary Festival event in the new lecture theatre there (marked as new music room on this map).

Corpus Christi quadCorpus Christi Main Quad from the Lodge

Afterwards we walked back through the Fellows Garden, the Garden Quad and then the Main Quad and out of the Lodge.

Lodge ceilingIntricate Lodge ceiling with Corpus Christi crest

I did not have my camera, boo hoo, so the photos are from the other day when we were not allowed in!

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