Daresbury - Adventures in Wonderland
Among the vast plain of Cheshire, on the A56 way, south-west of Warrington, lays Daresbury, a two-streets tiny village of around 250 inhabitants. It would be a countryside sleepy surround if not the unconventional things that have been happening there.
The village seems to have a knack for multi-dimensional exploration. First - it is the birthplace of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, one of the first enigma and fantasy novels, having a huge impact on generations of readers to this day. He had been inspired by some local legends.
On the opposite side of the A56 is a large scientific facility, Daresbury Laboratory. It is the UK's forefront in world-class and cutting-edge research in nuclear physics, computing, AI, bio-medicine, chemistry. It could be named 'the Local CERN' as it also deals with the tiniest particles in the Universe and is partnering with the CERN. Anyway, what goes there, is light years ahead of what an average person is capable of understanding.
Third, just north of Daresbury, a colourful music festival has been taking place since 2006, most prestigious of its kind. Creamfields gathers some 70,000 people each year, over four days, to go trans-dimensional with the electronic sound and dance. The Prodigy, The Zuttons, The Chemical Brothers, Kasabian, DJ Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, Swedish House Mafia have been frequently performing there.
And fourth, to add to the mix - is a high number of reports of UFOs around the Cheshire plain, according to Ministry of Defence archives. 'The area around Daresbury, Moore, Helsby Hill and Runcorn is a playground for supernatural activity. It is thought to be one of the most active areas in the country for strange sightings.' (Warringotn Guardian, Aliens in Wonderland, 1996)
We visited Daresbury in 2008, for the late Autumn joy of exploration of the village.
The Ring 'O' Bells public house (above, left) is what welcomes you upon entering the village.
Going down the Daresbury Lane is the quaint church of All Saints and adjacent graveyard.
A chapel was founded on the site as early as the 12th century. The Church tower was built around 1550. There is a 16th-century font in the churchyard (lower left) in which Lewis Carroll was baptised.
But the best and most jaw-dropping moment came when we moved towards the pulpit and the main altar.
The Jacobean pulpit is adorned with some lavish carvings, if not utterly racy, certainly not quite appropriate for the decent religious purposes.
The village seems to have a knack for multi-dimensional exploration. First - it is the birthplace of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, one of the first enigma and fantasy novels, having a huge impact on generations of readers to this day. He had been inspired by some local legends.
On the opposite side of the A56 is a large scientific facility, Daresbury Laboratory. It is the UK's forefront in world-class and cutting-edge research in nuclear physics, computing, AI, bio-medicine, chemistry. It could be named 'the Local CERN' as it also deals with the tiniest particles in the Universe and is partnering with the CERN. Anyway, what goes there, is light years ahead of what an average person is capable of understanding.
Third, just north of Daresbury, a colourful music festival has been taking place since 2006, most prestigious of its kind. Creamfields gathers some 70,000 people each year, over four days, to go trans-dimensional with the electronic sound and dance. The Prodigy, The Zuttons, The Chemical Brothers, Kasabian, DJ Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, Swedish House Mafia have been frequently performing there.
And fourth, to add to the mix - is a high number of reports of UFOs around the Cheshire plain, according to Ministry of Defence archives. 'The area around Daresbury, Moore, Helsby Hill and Runcorn is a playground for supernatural activity. It is thought to be one of the most active areas in the country for strange sightings.' (Warringotn Guardian, Aliens in Wonderland, 1996)
We visited Daresbury in 2008, for the late Autumn joy of exploration of the village.
The Ring 'O' Bells public house (above, left) is what welcomes you upon entering the village.
Lewis Carroll's (real name Charles Dodgson) father was a parson in Daresbury church between 1827 to 1843, during the first 11 years of his life. He picked up some of his extraordinary ideas and stories attending the church, and listening to the local lore, for example about the Cheshire Cat (above, right), and its famous mischievous grin. The White Rabbit has its origins also in local legends.
It was a surprise even back then to find the iconic red telephone box in the village centre but they are quite common in remote places like Daresbury. Now they have employed a different uses - local books exchange or as a defibrillator box.
It was a surprise even back then to find the iconic red telephone box in the village centre but they are quite common in remote places like Daresbury. Now they have employed a different uses - local books exchange or as a defibrillator box.
Going down the Daresbury Lane is the quaint church of All Saints and adjacent graveyard.
A chapel was founded on the site as early as the 12th century. The Church tower was built around 1550. There is a 16th-century font in the churchyard (lower left) in which Lewis Carroll was baptised.
The Old Parsonage was some distance away in Newton-by-Daresbury; it was caught in a fire in the 20th century and completely demolished. The area is now managed by the National Trust.
Charles, educated at home, was able to read, at the age of seven. The Pilgrim's Progress, an allegorical novel from the late 17th century was one of his favourites.
The author of Alice Adventure had developed an ambivalent relationship with religion, in general, later in life.
The outside 'inspection' of the church, strikes with some original Pagan motifs incorporated - the Celtic triskelions (upper right). Similar triple spirals have been found on Neolithic sites, dating back some 5,000 years ago...
There was a note about an ancient practise celebrated to this day. The fields of Daresbury are blessed in the Spring and Autumn, around the Equinoxes. A ceremonial cart is used in the procession, and we know that this act is directly linked to Pagan fertility rites. The cart is stored somewhere in the church. We found an undergrounds entrance with a little door (lower left).
Lewis Carroll is commemorated in stained glass windows depicting characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Carroll's poem Christmas Greetings (lower right) with the Nativity scene above.
Charles, educated at home, was able to read, at the age of seven. The Pilgrim's Progress, an allegorical novel from the late 17th century was one of his favourites.
The author of Alice Adventure had developed an ambivalent relationship with religion, in general, later in life.
The outside 'inspection' of the church, strikes with some original Pagan motifs incorporated - the Celtic triskelions (upper right). Similar triple spirals have been found on Neolithic sites, dating back some 5,000 years ago...
Lewis Carroll is commemorated in stained glass windows depicting characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Carroll's poem Christmas Greetings (lower right) with the Nativity scene above.
But the best and most jaw-dropping moment came when we moved towards the pulpit and the main altar.
The Jacobean pulpit is adorned with some lavish carvings, if not utterly racy, certainly not quite appropriate for the decent religious purposes.
Sirens or mermaids (above left and right) with overabundant busts between angels' heads. What the heck...?
And behind an ordinary looking altar, we found is a Jacobean screen with Green Man carved in the centre and other pagan-fertility-related carvings. It had been used to screen out the Holy Rood during Easter time. And the White Rabbit grins mysteriously from the pennant (above, lower right). What a strange occurrences in a perfectly normal, little English village...
The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant to build the Lewis Carroll Visitor Centre, attached to the church. Both, the church and the centre are open every day. There is no admission charge, donations are welcome.
There are more places related to the odd and peculiar Alice's Adventures in Cheshire:
St Wilfrid’s Church, Grappenhall
Church Lane, Grappenhall, Warrington, WA4 3E
There is a carving of a cat found directly above the large west window. Carroll might have seen the cat as his father used to preach there.
St Christopher’s Church, Pott Shrigley
Spuley Lane, Pott Shrigley, Macclesfield, SK10 5RS
This thirteenth-century church also has a carving of a cat located on the wall inside, close to the pulpit.
Lewis Carroll Centenary Wood
It commemorates the centenary of Lewis Carroll's death.
www.lewiscarrollcentre.org.uk
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Warrington
The Golden Square shopping centre has sculptures fashioned in the line of the famous tea party. Alice is joining the March Hare, Dormouse and the Mad Hatter himself.
Bars and Pubs inspired by Alice in Wonderland:
Mad Hatter’s Tea Room and Bakery, Chester
49 Bridge Street Row East, Chester, CH1 1NW
Oddfellows Bar & Hotel, Chester
20 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, CH1 1RS
The Hatton pub, Hatton
Hatton Lane, Hatton WA4 4DB
Davenport’s Tea Room, Northwich
Bridge Farm, Warrington Road, Bartington, Northwich, CW8 4QU
-------------------------
Sources:
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/cheshire-ufo-sighting-mod-16996980
And behind an ordinary looking altar, we found is a Jacobean screen with Green Man carved in the centre and other pagan-fertility-related carvings. It had been used to screen out the Holy Rood during Easter time. And the White Rabbit grins mysteriously from the pennant (above, lower right). What a strange occurrences in a perfectly normal, little English village...
***
The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant to build the Lewis Carroll Visitor Centre, attached to the church. Both, the church and the centre are open every day. There is no admission charge, donations are welcome.
There are more places related to the odd and peculiar Alice's Adventures in Cheshire:
St Wilfrid’s Church, Grappenhall
Church Lane, Grappenhall, Warrington, WA4 3E
There is a carving of a cat found directly above the large west window. Carroll might have seen the cat as his father used to preach there.
St Christopher’s Church, Pott Shrigley
Spuley Lane, Pott Shrigley, Macclesfield, SK10 5RS
This thirteenth-century church also has a carving of a cat located on the wall inside, close to the pulpit.
Lewis Carroll Centenary Wood
It commemorates the centenary of Lewis Carroll's death.
www.lewiscarrollcentre.org.uk
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Warrington
The Golden Square shopping centre has sculptures fashioned in the line of the famous tea party. Alice is joining the March Hare, Dormouse and the Mad Hatter himself.
Bars and Pubs inspired by Alice in Wonderland:
Mad Hatter’s Tea Room and Bakery, Chester
49 Bridge Street Row East, Chester, CH1 1NW
Oddfellows Bar & Hotel, Chester
20 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, CH1 1RS
The Hatton pub, Hatton
Hatton Lane, Hatton WA4 4DB
Davenport’s Tea Room, Northwich
Bridge Farm, Warrington Road, Bartington, Northwich, CW8 4QU
-------------------------
Sources:
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/cheshire-ufo-sighting-mod-16996980