Alice in Wonderland statue in Llandudno is repaired

Dec 18 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

ONE of Llandudno’s last remaining links with the Alice in Wonderland stories has been repaired four years after it was badly damaged by vandals.

The White Rabbit statue at West Shore has been a sorry sight since an arm and an ear were smashed off, and a squirrel and frog which sit at its base were also damaged.

But last week a specialist stonemason called in by Llandudno Town Council finished work costing £4,000 to replace the missing limbs, and to clean up the statue, repair broken paving slabs, and renovate the lettering on the plinth.

“We are pleased we have been able to refurbish this much-loved statue and the repairs had become even more important because the demolition of Penmorfa recently means it is one of the remaining links with the Alice story,” said town clerk Tessa Wildermoth.

Penmorfa, which was the holiday home of the Liddell family, whose daughter Alice was believed to have inspired author Lewis Carroll, stood opposite the rabbit statue before being knocked down last month to make way for luxury flats.

Ms Wildermoth said there had been a long delay in getting the statue repaired because it had been difficult to find a specialist stonemason capable of carrying out the work.

She explained the council would monitor the statue carefully and were likely to look at ways of making it more secure.

“The contractor removed and refurbished the protective cage which surrounds it but it may well be that the council will look at how to better protect it,” she added.

judith.phillips