July 10th 2008
The village where Lewis Carroll spent his early years and found inspiration for some of his work is to get a visitor centre dedicated to the author, thanks to £371,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Known throughout the world as the creator of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and ‘Through the Looking Glass’, Carroll was born in 1832 in Daresbury. He spent the first 11 years of his life living in the parsonage at Morphany Lane whilst his father was the Vicar at the local Church of All Saints’.
Today the Grade II*Listed church stands as a prominent local landmark and place of interest for fans of Carroll’s work from all over the world. It boasts the stained glass window which was created in 1935 through public subscription to commemorate the centenary of the author’s birth, as well as the font in which he was baptized and a selection of old photographs of the village which depict the house where Carroll grew up.
A number of features in the Church are thought to have inspired Carroll’s writings, such as the unusual carvings on the pulpit, which he would have sat beneath whilst his father preached the sermon, and the acrostic in the bell tower detailing the fines that would be imposed on errant bell ringers. Walking around the village, the visitor will find a the grinning smile of a cat on a barn wall, similar to the Cheshire Cat in the Alice in Wonderland story.
However, there is currently little information available for the people who come to Daresbury to find out more about the author’s early life and the village struggles to cope with the interest. Thanks to today’s news, All Saints Daresbury PCC will create a sympathetic extension onto the side of the Church which will house a new Lewis Carroll Interpretation Centre.
Themes for the displays will include ‘Daresbury in the life and times of Lewis Carroll’, ‘An introduction to Carroll’s key works’, ‘The Lewis Carroll window’ and ‘Lewis Carroll logic puzzles’. The project will provide layered interpretation materials so that visitors can learn as little or as much as they wish in their visit.
Carroll’s works are of great importance. They gave rise to a number of sayings which are used in everyday speech such as ‘grinning like Cheshire Cat’ and at the time of their publication his books revolutionized children’s literature with a departure from the Victorian moralistic style.
Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in the North West, said “We are delighted to be able to support this project in Daresbury. Our grant will enable the church to transform the way that visitors to the village can learn about Lewis Carroll, his early years and sources of inspiration. It will offer a fascinating insight for a whole range of visitors, from overseas fans of the famous author to local school groups.”
The new Centre will be accompanied by a series of educational activities to enable everyone to learn more about Carroll and his achievements. The project will also see the development of a walking trail in the village, being developed in partnership with the learning team from nearby Norton Priory.
Reverend Cannon David Felix of All Saint’s Church, said “We are thrilled by this news. The grant will enable us to turn a dream into a reality which we are sure Carroll would have appreciated. It will vastly improve our Visitor facilities without destroying the natural charm and beauty of the Church and village. This grant is the result of a lot of hard work over very many years. It would not have been possible without the support we have had from the community, our local Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund staff, to whom we are very grateful.”
A selection of images can be seen at http://www.daresburycofe.org.uk/all_saints/index.htm
Notes to Editors
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 26,000 projects, allocating over £4 billion across the UK.