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When Alice Liddell was a little girl, she and her family lived in Christchurch, Oxford. The street which runs along the front of Christchurch is called St Aldate's, and Alice and her sister Phoebe used to call at the sweetshop located at number 83 to buy sugar candy. Lewis Carroll wove the shop into his 'Alice' stories when Alice is transported into a strange shop with a knitting sheep behind the counter in "Through The Looking Glass".
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  Number 83 St Aldate's is now a gift shop and sells nothing but memorabillia, toys, ornaments, pictures and so on - and every item is related to the 'Alice' stories. Although there have been renovations over the years, the shop looks as though it hasn't changed much since Alice Liddell used to call there, the walls are panelled in mahogany wood, and the more valuable stock is displayed in tall wood and glass cabinets. The lighting is likewise old-fashioned but, being electric, must have been installed in more modern times. The counter is glass, Alice would probably have received her sugar candy over a solid mahogany one, but it's fun to imagine the two sisters walking into the shop to make their purchases.
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Annie Louise follows in Alice's footsteps, down the two stairs and into a sort of Wonderland.
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"Can you tell me why your cat grins like that?" "Because it's a tea cosy, that is why!"
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Miniature Wonderland figures on individual pedestals - a bit short on variety today.
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Ah, it's time for tea. Lots of teapots in different sizes with Tenniel illustrations on them.
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Hmmmm. They look a bit too breakable for comfort, how about this pretend one?
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This clock is reminiscent of "Looking Glass" - all the numbers run backwards.
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