Alice in Wonderland artist's plaque finds new home

13 November 2025

Victoria CookLondon

News image — The rare green plaque was almost thrown away 65 years ago

English Heritage An illustration of Alice in Wonderland is beamed onto the brick wall surrounding the restored green plaque to Sir John Tenniel. Alice looks as though she is pulling back a curtain to look at the plaque. — The rare green plaque was almost thrown away 65 years ago

A green plaque saved from the former north-west London residence of Alice in Wonderland illustrator Sir John Tenniel, which was demolished in 1959, has found a new home after being restored.

The sign was due to be scrapped when the Maida Vale home was knocked down as it was so damaged, but in a fortunate twist of events, it was put into storage.

Now the almost 100-year-old plaque has been repaired by English Heritage experts, and reinstalled in West Kensington where Sir John spent the final years of his life.

Sir John died in 1914 aged 93. He was known for illustrating Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Through The Looking-Glass, and his political cartoons.

Getty Images An illustration of the Mad Hatter's tea party showing the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the dormouse and Alice in Wonderland. — "If you knew Time as well as I do," said the Hatter, "you wouldn't talk about wasting it" - Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland, Illustrated by Sir John Tenniel in 1871

English Heritage said when the plaque dedicated to Sir John Tenniel was rediscovered it was "structurally sound", but said it showed "clear signs of damage, including scratches, splashes, fissures, and several losses to the glaze and ceramic body".

It said: "Conservation specialists painstakingly cleaned the surface, removing decades old mortar before using dry pigments and stone powders to recreate the original green glaze."

English Heritage A woman in a green jumper sits at a desk, working to restore the plaque which sits next to her — English Heritage said the conservation work was "painstaking"

The charity noted this was the first time a plaque had been retrieved, conserved and returned to the city's streets after such a long absence.

Getty Images A black and white image of Sir John Tenniel — Sir John Tenniel (1820–1914) remains one of the most influential illustrators in British history

Senior historian at English Heritage, Howard Spencer, said: "At nearly a hundred years old, this plaque has an extraordinary story.

"English Heritage has never conserved and reinstalled such a historic plaque before, so it was something of a leap of faith - but we're delighted with the result."

English Heritage A green plaque which says "LCC, Sir John Tenniel, 1820-1914, Artist and cartoonist lived here — The plaque has now been placed at 52 Fitz-George Avenue in West Kensington, where the illustrator spent his final years

Although green, the plaque is part of the London-wide blue plaques scheme, which has been running for 150 years.

The blue plaques scheme was initially administered by the London County Council (1901–65) and then by the Greater London Council (1965–86), before being taken on by English Heritage in 1986.

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