Alice, Harry, & Me

Last Wednesday, our "Oxford Through the Ages" class went on a tour of Christ Church Cathedral/College which is where I'll be completing my service hours as a docent during the semester. In the last 150 years, it was mostly associated with Charles Dodgson ("Lewis Carroll") and his book "Alice in Wonderland;" however, in more recent years, the name "Harry Potter" fills the corridors of the 12th century Cathedral. There are so many stained and painted glass windows, and as our tour guide pointed out, they are full of jokes! For example, the section of the stained glass "St. Frideswide's Window" that I have pictured here depicts the death of the 8th century patron saint of Oxford. The window was created in 1898, about the time when the modern toilet was first invented, so the artist included a flush-able toilet in the background of the image. Can you find it?

Charles Dodgson was a "Student" (professor/"Fellow") of Mathematics at Christ Church College in the 19th century while the Dean was a man named Henry Liddell who had three daughters--the middle, a girl named Alice. Dodgson was a friend of the Liddell's and wrote "Alice in Wonderland"--that crazy day dream--for Alice. Throughout Christ Church can be found all of the inspiration for that fantastical piece of literature.

For example, today when I was beginning my service hours, a jolly old man told me a brief history. He led me to a door which opened to the two back gardens of Christ Church College. "Do you see that building over there?" he asked, in his jolly-British-old-man way, "That is the back of the Library, and Charles Dodgson used to sit and look out one of those windows and look down into these gardens. You see that little green door separating the two?" I nodded yes, "That was where he got the idea for the little green door in Wonderland. And that Chestnut tree? The Cheshire Cat sat grinning from a great Chestnut tree."

He then went on to tell me a very dramatic story. "Well, Alice was a pretty little girl, and pretty girls often grow into beautiful ladies, and beautiful ladies often fall in love. Well, Alice fell in love with Queen Victoria's son Leopold, but of course, a common girl could not marry royalty. So they had to part ways, but their final words to each other were," and here he started sniffling and pretending to cry, "'If I ever marry, and have a son,' said Alice, 'I shall call him Leopold.' And Leopold said, 'If I ever marry and have a daughter, I shall call her Alice.'" He then led me to the entrance of the Cathedral. "Well Alice did marry. A man named Hargreaves. And she did have a son who died in the War," by then we were standing in front of a memorial for the men who served their country and died in World War I. He pointed and, sure enough, "Leopold Reginald Hargreaves." And Leopold had a daughter, Princess Alice, who died in the 1980s. Now isn't that a romantic story?

Anyway, the staircase leading to Hall was filmed in "Harry Potter" and the Hall itself was inspiration for the hall at Hogwarts. I know I'm crazy, but I'm not a fan of the movie, so I don't fully appreciate it, which I should, because as a volunteer, I'm allowed to dine in the Hall. :)

So, I began my service hours today and it was so much fun! I worked with two ladies, Wendy who was in her 60s and Mary who was in her 80s. Both were very kind. Especially Mary who was just precious! My favorite quote of the day came from little old Mary. The cleaning lady was discussing the new 'Alice in Wonderland' which is about to be released and she said, "I'm old enough to be his mum, but I just think Johnny Depp is so handsome!" to which Mary replied, "Well, I'm old enough to be his grandmum and he still gives me the stirrings!" I laughed so hard. It was absolutely hilarious.

I'm so excited to continue my volunteering at the Cathedral. I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories and quotes in my coming posts. And I intend to read "Alice in Wonderland" and continue to find Dodgson's inspirations throughout the Cathedral and College.

Cheers!