‘Alice in Wonderland’ author’s country house for sale

An English country house where Lewis Carroll once lived will have buyers grinning like a Cheshire cat. 

Carroll – whose real name was the Reverend Charles Dodgson – made literary history made literary history when he wrote the classic children’s novel Alice in Wonderland.

The whimsical tale is still beloved by readers around the world for its instantly recognisable characters, from the Mad Hatter to the White Rabbit. 

Now, bibliophiles have the chance to walk in Carroll’s footsteps – as long as they have $3.2 million to spare. 

The Old Hall in Ripon, Yorkshire in the north of England is a heritage-listed house that dates back to the 1700s. 

During the Victorian era, it was owned by Carroll’s father, Charles Dodgson senior.

The young Carroll spent his summer holidays at the Old Hall throughout the 1840s and 1850s. 

It is believed that the nearby Ripon Cathedral served as inspiration for elements of Alice in Wonderland. 

Carvings in the cathedral depict rabbits being chased down rabbit holes, and a regal lady standing on a grinning cat. 

Many of these elements would later appear in the novel, which was published in 1865.

The six-bedroom, four-bathroom house is on the market for £1.6 million ($3.28 million) with Savills. 

The owner, Michael Godwin, told the BBC he is selling the house after 15 years with the intention to downsize. 

The heritage-listed manor is full of period details, including a grand staircase and a painted ceiling depicting the Judgement of Paris from Greek mythology.

A framed print of John Tenniel’s classic illustration of the Mad Hatter’s tea party hangs on the dining room wall. 

Upstairs are the five primary bedrooms, including a large master suite. 

A separate self-contained studio in the garden provides a private retreat for visiting family and friends.