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Take a tumble down the rabbit hole for this property’s colorful history.
The former residence of Lewis Carroll, the author of “Alice in Wonderland” whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is currently on the market for $2.17 million. This house in North Yorkshire used to be where Carroll’s father, a church official at Ripon Cathedral nearby, lived seasonally.
According to the BBC, the property is being sold by Savills. It was revealed that during the 1850s, the Dodgson family would spend a quarter of the year at this residence. A young Carroll had to pass his school holidays from Oxford University at this house.
Ripon Old Hall, a home built in the early 1700s and modernized in the mid-1800s, is a Georgian-style property. The peculiar interiors of Ripon Cathedral, located right next to it, are believed to have influenced Carroll’s famous children’s tale, “Alice in Wonderland,” published in 1865.
The house itself is filled with eye-catching details, including intricate plasterwork and hand-carved millwork.
The first floor encompasses three reception rooms, a modern kitchen, a formal dining room and a study, according to the listing. Two upper floors consist of five bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Period features throughout the home include raised wood paneling, marble floors and stately fireplaces. The home’s original oak staircase is decorated with carved foliage garlands, and the one of the upstairs bedrooms features fluted, Greek-style columns within the wall paneling.
Most strikingly, perhaps, is the upper hall ceiling, which depicts in the vivid color the Judgement of Paris, a scene from Greek mythology.
While Ripon Old Hall boasts beautiful architectural details, it’s the nearby cathedral where the young author likely drew his inspirations.
Intricate wooden carvings throughout Ripon Cathedral bear clear resemblances to Carroll’s fantastical characters, including a golden queen upon a red beam and a wide-eyed headless cat sticking out its tongue. Elsewhere, a mythical gryphon pursues a rabbit down a hole.
“The sale of The Old Hall presents an incredibly rare opportunity to own a slice of history,” said Ed Stoyle, director and at Savills in York, in a statement shared with The Post.
Stoyle added that the 18-century home offers “a window into the changing architecture of the last 300 years.”
The $2.17 million listing also comes with a separate studio apartment, accessed through a private entrance. The space includes its own kitchen, bedroom and a bathroom.
The property boasts walled gardens, including a “breakfast garden” position to capture the morning sun, or perhaps host a mad tea party.