Grade II cottage that ‘inspired Lewis Carroll’s famous novel’ hits market for £1m
A slice of Wonderland: Grade II 1842 cottage that ‘inspired Lewis Carroll’s famous novel’ hits market for £1m (but watch out for any rabbit holes)
- Red Cottage is a striking Grade II listed property in Tyne and Wear where the writer regularly visited his family
- The unusual 179-year-old home was built in 1842 by architect Benjamin Green for industrialist Thomas Barnes
- The cottage was extended in the 1930s and again in 2002 and now offers 3,300 sq ft of accommodation
A quirky ‘show home’ where Lewis Carroll is believed to have stayed while writing some of his Alice in Wonderland books has gone on the market for just under £1million.
Red Cottage is a striking Grade II listed property in Whitburn, Tyne and Wear, where Charles Dodgson – otherwise known as Lewis Carroll – regularly visited his family.
The unusual 179-year-old home was built in 1842 by architect Benjamin Green for Thomas Barnes – an industrialist who owned a quarry and brickworks.
Barnes wanted to show off the range of extravagant and ornate design features his business could provide as well as a variety of roof tiles.
As he was a cricket fan he also had the chimneys built to resemble stumps and one even has a ball on top of it.
The house was extended in the 1930s and again in 2002 and it now offers 3,300 sq ft of accommodation with an entrance hall, lounge, dining room, living room, garden room and kitchen/breakfast room downstairs and five bedrooms and three bathrooms upstairs.
Red Cottage is a striking Grade II listed property in Whitburn, Tyne and Wear, where Charles Dodgson – otherwise known as Lewis Carroll – regularly visited his family
The house was extended in the 1930s and again in 2002 and it now offers 3,300 sq ft of accommodation with an entrance hall, lounge, dining room, living room, garden room and kitchen/breakfast room (pictured)
The quirky ‘show home’ where Lewis Carroll is believed to have stayed while writing some of his Alice in Wonderland books has gone on the market for just under £1million. Pictured: Porch
The property sits in 0.45 of an acre (pictured) with a variety of fruit trees and a grape house and also has outbuildings including a workshop, air raid shelter, greenhouse and detached garage
The 179-year-old home was built in 1842 by architect Benjamin Green for Thomas Barnes and has now gone on the market for just under £1million. Pictured: Bedroom
The property sits in 0.45 of an acre with a variety of fruit trees and a grape house and also has outbuildings including a workshop, air raid shelter, greenhouse (pictured) and detached garage
Charles Dodgson (left) visited the area regularly and was also known to visit the Williamsons of Whitburn Hall who were relatives of Alice Liddell (right) – the 10-year-old who Dodgson was said to have based the Alice of his books on
Similarly, a walk on Whitburn beach where he met a carpenter before coming across a stuffed walrus in the town is said to be the inspiration behind The Walrus and The Carpenter in Alice Through the Looking Glass (pictured)
The property sits in 0.45 of an acre with a variety of fruit trees and a grape house. It also has outbuildings including a workshop, air raid shelter, greenhouse and detached garage.
Ashleigh Sundin, from estate agents Sanderson Young, said: ‘It’s a stunning Grade II listed house and it’s just a short walk from the seafront in Whitburn.
‘The garden is just absolutely exceptional – it has a beautiful, private, walled south-facing garden.
‘And the character of the building itself is incredible – it is something you have to go and see in person to fully appreciate. It was built as a show house for a brickworks owner so it’s a real one of a kind home.
The striking Grade II listed property sits in 0.45 of an acre with a variety of fruit trees and a grape house. Pictured: House exterior
The striking Grade II listed property in Whitburn, Tyne and Wear, has gone on the market for just under £1million. Pictured: Bedroom
Red Cottage also boasts a series of eye-catching features including fireplaces and oak beams throughout many of the rooms. Pictured: Dining room
The five-bedroom property built in 1842, which has strong links to Lewis Carroll, also boasts three upstairs bathrooms (pictured)
The current owners have been living at the property in Whitburn, Tyne and Wear, for over 20 years and brought their children up there. Pictured: Lounge
The property sits in 0.45 of an acre with a variety of fruit trees and a grape house and also has outbuildings including a workshop, air raid shelter, greenhouse and detached garage. Pictured: Patio
The house bosts an entrance hall, lounge, dining room, living room, garden room and kitchen/breakfast room downstairs as well as five bedrooms and three bathrooms (pictured) upstairs
‘It has since had an extension added at the back so it has a lovely big kitchen/diner.
‘It is believed Lewis Carroll stayed there while writing about Alice in Wonderland. The current owners have been there over 20 years and have brought their children up there, it has been a very happy home.’
Dodgson visited the area regularly and was also known to visit the Williamsons of Whitburn Hall who were relatives of Alice Liddell – the 10-year-old who Dodgson was said to have based the Alice of his books on.
It is said many of his experiences in the town may have provided inspiration for his famous children’s novels.
Red Cottage is a striking Grade II listed property in Whitburn, Tyne and Wear, where Charles Dodgson – otherwise known as Lewis Carroll – regularly visited his family. Pictured: Bedroom
The house was extended in the 1930s and again in 2002 and it now offers 3,300 sq ft of accommodation. Pictured: Entrance hall
Barnes wanted to show off the range of extravagant and ornate design features his business could provide as well as a variety of roof tiles. Pictured: House exterior
The house was extended in the 1930s and again in 2002 and it now offers 3,300 sq ft of accommodation. Pictured: Bedroom with fireplace
The unusual house was extended in the 1930s and again in 2002 – and it now offers 3,300 sq ft of accommodation. Pictured: Living room
Sir Hedworth Williamson introduced white rabbits into the grounds of Whitburn Hall where Carroll played croquet.
Similarly, a walk on Whitburn beach where he met a carpenter before coming across a stuffed walrus in the town is said to be the inspiration behind The Walrus and The Carpenter in Alice Through the Looking Glass.
The Jabberwocky poem was first narrated by Dodgson to entertain his cousin when he was staying in Whitburn and is thought to have been inspired by a local legend of the Lambton Worm.
