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Lunchtime Talk: ‘Alice’s Adventures in Oxford’
12 February 2025 @ 1.00pm to 2.00pm
About Lunchtime Talk: ‘Alice’s Adventures in Oxford’
Alice’s Adventures in Oxford – Real people as Wonderland Characters (and some who weren’t!)
Within the imaginative fantasy of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’ books lie many Oxford realities, including a number of real people who feature as ‘Wonderland’ characters.
Many were University acquaintances, but some were townspeople, known to either Lewis Carroll or the real Alice (Alice Liddell, daughter of the Dean of Christ Church). There was ‘one of the thorny kind’, for instance, and an eccentric headgear specialist whose dog Alice remembered fondly even when she was eighty years old.
Additionally, author Lewis Carroll was friendly with many Oxford families after the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. His skill as a photographer and inventor of games made him a popular guest, including at the homes of families whose names live on as the Oxford institutions of Lucy & Co and Mallam, the auctioneers.
Join local historian, guide, and author Mark Davies (a trustee of the Lewis Carroll Society) for a talk that will reveal some pertinent, surprising, and long-lasting aspects of Victorian Oxford through the curious medium of the world’s most famous children’s story.
Complimentary tea and coffee will be available to enjoy during the talk. We recommend arriving before the start of the talk if you would like to grab a refreshment.
Sales from tickets help support our work to deliver fun and accessible family activities, community engagement projects, school workshops, exhibitions, and special events for Oxford’s people in our Museum spaces.
Mark Davies is an Oxford local historian, public speaker, and guide. His publications include the social and cultural importance of the city’s waterways (A Towpath Walk in Oxford; Alice in Waterland; Alice’s Oxford on Foot; What a Liberty!), historical crime (Stories of Oxford Castle; The Abingdon Waterturnpike Murder) and a biography of the first English hot-air balloonist, James Sadler (King of All Balloons).
He is a Trustee of the Lewis Carroll Society, a member of the Society of Authors, Chair of the Jericho Living Heritage Trust, and on the committee of the Alliance of Literary Societies.
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Tickets prices:
From £5.00
Tickets are subject to a transaction fee of £1.13 and are available to purchase online or at the Museum shop.
Dates & times:
Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 1.00pm
Running time:
1 hour
About Museum of Oxford
The Museum of Oxford is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of Oxford and its people. Located inside the Oxford Town Hall, it explores the city’s rich history beyond the university, focusing on the lives, industries, and communities that have shaped Oxford over time.
The museum features interactive exhibits, local artefacts, and personal stories, covering topics such as Oxford’s medieval origins, its diverse communities, and key moments in its development. It also hosts temporary exhibitions, events, and activities for all ages.
