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Carroll and Tolkien characters feature on pub mural

BBC The Library pub with a very colourful mural on its whole facade, including the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, author Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse and Gandalf from JRR Tolkien's Lord of the RingsBBC
Residents say the mural is "quirky" and feel it suits the area

A pub has been given a colourful makeover with wall art inspired by literary works with a local connection.

The mural on The Library on Cowley Road, Oxford, features fictional characters, including the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, author Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse and Gandalf from JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

The artwork is by Oxford-based MES Crew, whose collective of graffiti writers, artists, designers and musicians said they aimed to "bring new life to old walls".

Residents have described it as "quirky", "family-friendly" and "fitting for the area".

Inspector Morse mural piece
Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse is one of the most recognised Oxford fictional characters

"I love it - very colourful, very bold, a nice break from the other shop fronts," one resident said.

"Very intriguing, definitely catches your attention when you're walking past," another added.

Zaneta Lichnova, owner of the hair salon opposite, has been watching the mural emerge.

"I definitely think it brings a lot of happiness to the community," she said.

"Everybody stops and says how beautiful it is - we need to see more of it."

Pub landlord Tom Reynolds
Pub landlord Tom Reynolds says everyone walking past can pick out their favourite characters

Tom Reynolds, who runs the pub, said it "definitely needed a bit of a change".

"In general, I think everyone's loved it," he said, adding: "There are references for all ages on it."

Stu Mason, founding member of MES Graffiti Crew, said the idea had come together quite quickly.

"Cowley Road is very vibrant anyway and it's seen as the creative heart of Oxford," he said.

"And with a pub called The Library, there was only really one way we could go and that was lots of books and stories related to Oxford and Oxfordshire."

The Cat in the Hat mural piece on the pub
Dr Seuss's The Cat in the Hat is another featured character

Other characters portrayed by authors with an Oxford link, include Dr Seuss' The Cat in the Hat and the White Rabbit from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

MES Crew has been involved in previous artistic transformations of the area, including Operation Boombox which revamped electrical boxes along Cowley Road in 2023.

Gandalf mural piece of the character gazing at the One Ring
Homage has also been paid to JRR Tolkien with an illustration of Gandalf, gazing at the One Ring

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