Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
26 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
26 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
26 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
26 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Beverley Beverley Messenger Rabbit

Beverley Messenger Rabbit

Lewis Carroll's White Rabbit or something else altogether?

Beverley, England

Added By
Annetta Black
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...
  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...
Rabbit in St Michael’s Chapel of St Mary’s Church   Steve and Nicky / Atlas Obscura User
Location of Rabbit towards back left side in St Michael’s Chapel   Steve and Nicky / Atlas Obscura User
  Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On one side of a stone archway inside St. Mary's Church, North Bar Within, Beverley, England, there is a familiar looking carving of a perky upright rabbit, or perhaps a hare, holding a messenger bag, long suspected of being the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's (aka Charles Ludwidge Dodgson) White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. Although not mentioned in his journals, it is possible that a young Dodgson saw the 18" carving during one of his family's outings in the area.

The carving itself is most likely a representation of the messenger hare in the well known cautionary fable written by Odo of Cherinton, who was a Catholic preacher and writer in the 13th century. His tales had a lot in common with Aesop, with animal protagonists adapted to illustrate Christian moral principles.

The hare features in a tale wherein a group of lazy townspeople realize at the last minute that they are late to pay their rent, and they seek out and catch a hare, which are known for speed and agility. After placing their rent in a pouch tied to the hare, they instruct it to race to their landlord, but of course it takes off in another direction and is never seen again.

In Alice in Wonderland, the White Rabbit's tardiness and panic are said to be inspired by Dean Liddell, the father of the real-life Alice (Alice Pleasance Liddell). Dean Liddell was notoriously late for appointments.

Lewis Carroll's family spent time in the Beverley area when visiting with his grandfather as a child, and he sent Alice's illustrator John Tenniel far and wide in search of visual inspiration. But unless some new evidence comes to light the connection between the Beverley messenger hare and the White Rabbit remains a mystery.

It has also been suggested that he may have been inspired by a misericord in the choral room at Ripon Cathedral, where his father was a canon when Carroll was a young man.  The carving depicts a rabbit escaping down a hole.  Carroll is known to have worked on Through the Looking Glass while in Ripon, and the Queen of Hearts and Cheshire Cat make appearances in the south transept in honor of the connection.

Related Tags

Literature Statues

Know Before You Go

The carving is above the door to the sacristy. On the left hand side of the church from the main door,  immediately after the stairs to the crypt.

Community Contributors

Added By

Annetta Black

Edited By

smlyc, jooniur, Gavin, Steve and Nicky

  • smlyc
  • jooniur
  • Gavin
  • Steve and Nicky

Published

March 16, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • <cite>The Lore of the Land</cite>, Westwood, Jennifer and Jacqueline Simpson, Penguin Books, 2005
  • <cite> the Fables of Odo of Cheriton</cite>, John C. Jacobs, 1985
  • http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/leisure/countrymansdiary/4570492.Beverley___s_links_with_Lewis_Carroll_are_shared_here_in_the_North_East/
Beverley Messenger Rabbit
St. Mary's Church
North Bar Within
Beverley, England, HU17 8DB
United Kingdom
53.844293, -0.434774
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Beverley Sanctuary Stones

Beverley, England

miles away

The Hull Mermaid

Hull, England

miles away

Seven Seas Fish Trail

Hull, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Beverley

Beverley

England

Places 2

Nearby Places

Beverley Sanctuary Stones

Beverley, England

miles away

The Hull Mermaid

Hull, England

miles away

Seven Seas Fish Trail

Hull, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Beverley

Beverley

England

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

A Lucky 8 Places to Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Sherlock Holmes Statue

    London, England

    Sherlock Holmes Statue

    This tribute to the fictional detective stands at the famous literary character's address.

  • Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

    Brussels, Belgium

    ‘Don Quixote and Sancho Panza’

    A largely overlooked statue that may commemorate the first publication of 'Don Quixote' outside of Spain.

  • Lyon, France

    Saint Exupéry Monument

    This statue stands in honor of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French author of 'The Little Prince' and an aviation hero.

  • Close up of Sherlock Holmes’ face with pipe in hand

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Sherlock Holmes Statue

    Erected in memory of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was born close to this spot, this statue commemorates the author and his famous detective.

  • Death and the Mother.

    Copenhagen, Denmark

    ‘Death and the Mother’

    This sculptural representation of an Andersen fairy tale had to be pushed away for being too grim.

  • Bronze Jane Austen in Bastingstoke

    Basingstoke, England

    Jane Austen Statue

    The birthplace of Jane Austen commemorated the 200th anniversary of her death with a bronze statue of the beloved author.

  • The side of the statue, as he faces Guildhall Square

    Portsmouth, England

    Charles Dickens Statue

    A rare full-sized statue of one of Britain's famous writers.

  • Monument to Jules Verne—Octopus

    Vigo, Spain

    Monument to Jules Verne—Octopus

    Dedicated to one of the author's most iconic works.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.