Ravensworth: The Castle that Inspired Wonderland

Lewis Carroll's wonderland stories remain classics the world over. Carroll based his lead character Alice and her odd experiences in wonderland from his real friendship with Alice Liddell and their many adventures at the family castle, Ravensworth. Incidentally, it stands in Gateshead right next to Rev. Schweitzer's home, and only a 30 minute walk from where I am living. I had the lovely opportunity to visit it with Mark Schweitzer this past Sunday evening. The lighting was poor for photography, but the twilight also added the illusion of antiquity. But not all was illusion; the two side towers date to the Norman period, while the front tower is a nineteenth century addition in the Gothic Revival style. The Liddell family became greedy and began a mining project underneath the castle, eventually making it structurally unstable. They left the castle around 1910. Nearby cottages have been built from the ruins.

 A cottage made from the stone of the castle.

 The village cross...

Windy but bright this morning, with the "supper moon" barely visible through the trees and a passer-by going along the wall below.

Newcastle, this morning...