Video: Pupils celebrate anniversary with their Alice in Wonderland restaurant

SINCE it was first published 150 years ago, it has become a literary favourite for generations of children.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Nov 2015, 17:18 BST
DAB HAND: Ruby Beadle, six, a pupil from Holy Trinity CE Infant School, putting the finishing touches to their picture. PIC: James HardistyDAB HAND: Ruby Beadle, six, a pupil from Holy Trinity CE Infant School, putting the finishing touches to their picture. PIC: James Hardisty
DAB HAND: Ruby Beadle, six, a pupil from Holy Trinity CE Infant School, putting the finishing touches to their picture. PIC: James Hardisty

And now an artwork dedicated to the landmark anniversary of author Lewis Carroll’s book, Alice in Wonderland, has been created by pupils from a dozen schools in North Yorkshire.

The mural spans nearly 20ft and is part of a community art project unveiled yesterday at Lockwood’s restaurant in Ripon. In attendance were 100 schoolchildren and their teachers who designed and painted the mural over three months.

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They were joined by the Mayor of Ripon, Coun Pauline McHardy, who officially unveiled the artwork.

DAB HAND: Ruby Beadle, six, a pupil from Holy Trinity CE Infant School, putting the finishing touches to their picture. PIC: James HardistyDAB HAND: Ruby Beadle, six, a pupil from Holy Trinity CE Infant School, putting the finishing touches to their picture. PIC: James Hardisty
DAB HAND: Ruby Beadle, six, a pupil from Holy Trinity CE Infant School, putting the finishing touches to their picture. PIC: James Hardisty

She said: “This looks like it has been a labour of love for the local schools. The final mural looks amazing and suitably celebrates the 150th anniversary.”

Restaurant owner Matthew Lockwood claimed the community artwork is a first for Ripon due to its size, and added: “It is a beautiful commemoration of our link to the world famous book.”

The father of Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Dodgson, was a canon at Ripon Cathedral during the author’s childhood. It is thought carvings of a griffin and rabbit in the cathedral helped inspire characters in the story of Alice in Wonderland, which was first published in 1865.

Related topics:RiponNorth Yorkshire