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West Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Visiting Daresbury, the birthplace of author Lewis Carroll in Cheshire
Travel stories about Lewis Carroll often take readers to Oxford, where the writer lived, studied, taught, and penned Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. It was in that esteemed university city where Carroll took a 10-year-old Alice Liddell — the daughter of his friend, the dean of Oxford's Christ Church College — for a much-mythologised boat ride on the River Isis. As he rowed, he entertained her with tales of fantastical characters and whimsical encounters he would later braid into his legendary 1865 novel. But it was a few decades earlier, in another bucolic, waterway-sliced part of England, where Carroll's imagination and creativity flourished. I am in Daresbury, a tiny, sleepy village in the county of Cheshire in the north-west of England. Carroll was born here, as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, in 1832, and lived here until the age of 11. He was one of 11 children of mother Frances and father the Reverend Charles Dodgson, the Scottish-born, Oxford-educated vicar of the village's All Saints' Church. Today, walking through the tree-shaded graveyard, I step into the church, which was largely rebuilt in the 1870s, after the Dodgsons' departure from Daresbury. The interior is cool and handsome, all neat sandstone and carved wood. The sun is streaking through the stained-glass windows, which include a special memorial one honouring Carroll. By the entrance, you can buy jars of Cheshire honey and various gifts — books, tea towels, fridge magnets — illustrated with Wonderland's protagonist and anthropomorphic creatures. Attached to the church is a small modern annex that houses the admission-free Lewis Carroll Centre. Information panels and archive pictures detail the writer's Cheshire upbringing and how it sowed the seeds for his future endeavours. Fond of playing in the Daresbury countryside, where he would invent games and stories involving toads, earthworms and snails, young Charles was initially expected to follow in his father's footsteps and devote himself to the Anglican Church. He was, in 1861, ordained a deacon, but never became a priest and instead followed his passions for mathematics and literature. Besides writing stories, he was a prolific correspondent, penning more than 50,000 letters in his lifetime. His pseudonym was a play on the Latin versions of Charles (Carolus, spawning Carroll) and Lutwidge (Ludovicus, resulting in Lewis). He was also keen on those new-fangled cameras that were coming into fashion, and is thought to have snapped more than 3000 developed photographs over his lifetime. Some have become contentious with age, especially the ones he took of children. His collection ranged from shots of young Alice Liddell in different costumes — including one of her dressed up as a beggar maid — to portraits of Victorian-era celebrities like the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson and pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Though he gave up his hobby in 1880, remarking that 'it had become a very tiring amusement', Carroll also took photographs of people and places in Daresbury when he returned as an adult. It was a time of great change for the area, with the Industrial Revolution bringing railways, mills and factories to a county that had long been dominated by farming. Carroll's birthplace, the Daresbury village parsonage, burned down in a fire in 1883. Its former location is on one of the local walking trails, and is now under the care of the National Trust, with the site marked with floor outlines and wrought-iron sculptures. Carroll died a bachelor in 1898, aged 65. Daresbury has obviously changed since his day — there's a near-constant faint hum of motorised traffic, with the busy A56 road bringing cars and trucks right by the village — yet it still retains its rural essence. There's a tinge of manure in the breeze as I wander beyond the church and watch sheep, lambs and ponies grazing in the verdant fields. In the other direction, by the village hall, there's Daresbury's sole pub, the Ring O' Bells, which has a rustic-cosy interior behind its mock-Tudor facade and provides tempting options for food and drink. You won't find much else in the immediate vicinity, although you're not too far from larger settlements: Warrington (15 minutes up the road), Chester (half-hour south) or Liverpool (45 minutes to the west). Walking up Daresbury's gently rising main street, I see quaint stone cottages and new housing estates with red-brick houses built to look older than they are. About 250 people live in the village now and it remains desirable, particularly for young families. I pass Daresbury's primary school and can hear children playing loudly on their lunch break. Glancing up at the building's roof, I see the village's famously quirky weathervane. It was donated by the local blacksmith upon his retirement in 1968 but had fallen into a sorry state before fund-raising by the school and the wider community restored it to its former glory. Looking at the weathervane, I see its painted figures of Alice, the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter. And I find myself grinning, a bit like the Cheshire Cat. + The Lewis Carroll Centre is open daily from 10am, apart from Sunday when, it's 2pm. It closes at 6pm in the northern summer, with earlier closing times in the darker months. For more information, see + For more information on visiting Cheshire, see + To help plan a trip to Britain, see
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
One of the UK's most underrated and affordable seaside cities is set for a huge £53million revamp
A MASSIVE £53 million transformation is set to completely reshape a forgotten part of one of Britain's best-kept coastal secrets — and it's just the beginning. Portsmouth's historic city centre is undergoing a major transformation through the City Centre North regeneration project. Advertisement 6 The changes are part of a long-term vision to support residents' mental and physical health, all while cutting carbon emissions and supporting local wildlife 6 These areas are set to include cafés, shops, transport hubs and areas for cultural activities, making it easier for locals and visitors to stay, spend and explore 6 At the core of the plan is a new green space linking St Agatha's Church and All Saints' Church The initiative aims to replace aging shopping areas with a modern, eco-friendly, and lively urban space for both residents and tourists. The ambitious 'City Centre North' project will turn a once-tired area into a thriving neighbourhood packed with new homes, open green spaces, and lively shopping and dining spots. Based in the heart of Hampshire on the south coast, Portsmouth is proving it's not just a stop-off for ferries, it's a city with big plans for the future. The regeneration focuses on the northern stretch of the city centre, currently home to underused and outdated plots including the old Tricorn and Sainsbury's sites. Advertisement Read more on Travel These locations, bought by Portsmouth City Council, are now the focal point of a massive redevelopment designed to bring new life and purpose to the area. At the core of the plan is a new green space linking St Agatha's Church and All Saints' Church, offering safe walking and cycling routes, relaxing public areas and a much-needed boost to local air quality. It's not just about looks either, the changes are part of a long-term vision to support residents' mental and physical health, all while cutting carbon emissions and supporting local wildlife. The first phase of development will include two large buildings with 550 new homes. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Around 30 per cent will be made affordable, a mix of homes for rent and shared ownership, helping ease the city's housing pressures. There will also be flexible retail and community space, plus new landscaping and part of the future public park. Future phases promise even more, up to 1,800 homes, nearly 10,000 square metres of non-residential space, and more than 22,000 square metres of parks, paths and public squares. These areas are set to include cafés, shops, transport hubs and areas for cultural activities, making it easier for locals and visitors to stay, spend and explore. Advertisement Local roads will also be reconfigured to prioritise buses, pedestrians and cyclists, supporting a shift towards greener, easier travel. Portsmouth's new city centre will be built not just for shopping, but for living, giving people more reasons to come into town, stay longer, and support local businesses. Community input will play a key role, with residents, businesses and community groups being invited to shape the plans as they evolve. Portsmouth City Council says the development is flexible by design, with space set aside for everything from creative hubs to food and drink venues, all shaped around what locals want to see. Advertisement This comes as Portsmouth gains national attention as a staycation destination. He told The Sun: 'Portsmouth isn't just a gateway to France or the Isle of Wight. "With its museums, family-friendly attractions and coastal charm, it's a gem in its own right.' Advertisement The 170-metre-high Spinnaker Tower adds a touch of drama to the skyline, with views for miles and even abseiling for the brave It's been compared to Dubai's famous towers and now stands as a symbol of Portsmouth's ambition. And despite the rising cost of living, Advertisement With competitive hotel prices, top-rated fish and chip shops, and direct trains from London Waterloo, it's ideal for a weekend away that won't break the bank. While other cities struggle with empty shops and declining footfall, Portsmouth is investing in a smarter future, one that mixes homes, nature, culture and commerce in one dynamic district. With £53m on the table and the first phase already underway, the city is on the brink of something big. It's a transformation that puts Portsmouth firmly back on the map, not just as a naval powerhouse, but as a modern, livable, and proudly underrated UK city. Advertisement 6 Portsmouth City Council says the development is flexible by design, with space set aside for everything from creative hubs to food and drink venues Credit: Portsmouth City Council 6 Future phases promise even more, up to 1,800 homes, nearly 10,000 square metres of non-residential space, and more than 22,000 square metres of parks, paths and public squares Credit: Portsmouth City Council 6 It will all be shaped around what locals want to see Credit: Portsmouth City Council
Listly
13-03-2025
- Listly
5 Steps To Discovering Galle - Must-See Attractions In Southern Sri Lanka
Beyond the fortified walls, dive deeper into the diverse cultural landscape of Galle Fort, by visiting its many historic religious landmarks and museums. Groote Kerk, or the Dutch Reformed Church, reflects the fort's European heritage, with its colonial-era gravestones and simple, neo-gothic architecture. Further down the road, the All Saints' Church sits as an Anglican marvel, showcasing a stunning display of intricate stained-glass windows. Closer to the Fort's walls, the Meeran Jumma Mosque glimmers in an ivory facade, representing the city's Muslim community for 300 years. For history enthusiasts, the Galle National Museum and the Historical Mansion Museum display fascinating artefacts that range from ancient jewellery to colonial relics, housed within historic buildings.
