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All the United Kingdom England Guildford 'Alice and the White Rabbit'

'Alice and the White Rabbit'

This sculpture combines the literary Alice with her real-life inspiration.

Guildford, England

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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Guildford’s Alice sculpture, 2018.   Dmitry Djouce
“…suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.”   Derek Winterburn
The Liddell sisters (Edith, Lorina, and Alice), photographed by Carroll.   Lewis Carroll
One of the “Alice in Wonderland” monuments in Guildford.   Matt Brown
Photo taken Sep 2022   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
  Steve 55 / Atlas Obscura User
An illustration from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865).   Sir John Tenniel
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
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Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, spent his last years in Guildford, Surrey. Carroll, whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is even buried in Guildford. So it's no wonder that there are several Alice-related spots throughout the town.

One monument to the town's literary associations can be found on the lawn by the River Wey. Titled "Alice and the White Rabbit," it was created by local sculptor Edwin Russell in 1984. It depicts the book's famous beginning, in which Alice follows a talking rabbit into a hole, leaving her older sister behind. The girl figures were modeled after the daughters of Russell's friend, and the rabbit's model was chosen from 500 white rabbits from a local farm.

One of the sculpture's most notable traits is Alice's bob-cut, short-fringed hair, a relatively uncommon depiction of the character. Her sister is also depicted as a young girl, unlike the 1951 Disney film and some modern illustrations. Noticeably, the White Rabbit is depicted as a realistic animal instead of an anthropomorphized version.

The girl sculptures were likely meant to evoke the real-life Alice Liddell, one of the major inspirations behind the literary heroine, as well as her namesake. Liddell was a brunette, unlike her Wonderland counterpart, and famously sported a short-fringed bob when she was a child. Her older sister, Lorina, was about three years her senior. 

Although the sculpture is not considered a top tourist spot in Guildford, it has been a popular playing area for local children since its installation. If you're an avid fan of Alice, this plain-but-unique literary monument is a must-see.

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The statue is located on a small patch of grass adjacent to the The White House pub. It is situated between Millmead lane and the River Wey canal

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Fred Cherrygarden

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SEANETTA, Gavin, Steve 55

  • SEANETTA
  • Gavin
  • Steve 55

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June 1, 2020

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  • https://www.surreylife.co.uk/out-about/alice-and-the-white-rabbit-statue-in-guildford-1-1640563
  • http://lewiscarrollsociety.org.uk/pages/aboutcharlesdodgson/life.html
'Alice and the White Rabbit'
8 High St
Guildford
Guildford, England, GU2 4AJ
United Kingdom
51.234499, -0.577884
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