Lewis Carroll first met the young girl Alice Donkin whilst visiting the Donkin family in the Manor House at Barmby Moor in 1862. It is said that she was the inspiration for the character Alice in his world-famous novels “Alice in Wonderland” and “Alice through the looking glass”. Carroll’s diary clearly documents his visit to Barmby Moor along with his association with Pocklington School Headmaster Dr. Frederick Gruggen. Carroll was experimenting with photography and took a photograph of Alice hanging outside the bedroom window in 1862 with a rope ladder and titled the photograph ‘The elopement’.

The following information is from a display item at a village history exhibition:

The Donkins - notes from the 1997 edition of the dairies published by the Lewis Carroll Society.

Edward Donkin (1825 - ??), a land agent, was living at Barmby Moor in 1862. His wife was Mary née Watt (1824 - ??). Edward's brother. William Fishburn Donkin 1814-69 (b. Bishop Burton and educated at St. Peters school in York) became Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford 1842-69. Mrs. Donkin had four sisters. Sarah, Amelia, Jane and Ellen, but which of these became Mrs. Audrey has not been identified. The children were Alice Jane Donkin (1851-1929), who eventually married Dodgson's brother Wilfred (1838-1914) on 9 August 1871 at Eskdale church. Francis H. (1852-??) an unmarried surveyor. Edward, Mary (Polly), and Henry (1859-??) unmarried merchant's clerk. The family appear to have moved around the country frequently. Edward and Mary Donkin began their married life at Westow. They lived at Barmby Moor in 1862, but not in 1861 at the time of the census. In 1871 they were living at Old Hall Sleights, near Whitby, and were recorded as living there in 1881 with their son Henry.

Extracts from Lewis Carroll's diary for October 1862.

Oct. 7 (Tu). Left Croft for Barmby Moor. I have taken several good photographs at Croft, including Dr. Dykes children, Mary, Ernest, Gertrude, and Caroline. The two youngest, Ethel and Mabel, I did not take. Reached Barmby Moor about four. The party consists of (besides Wilfred) Mr and Mrs Donkin, her sister Mrs. Audrey and five children, Alice, Frank, Edward, Mary, Henry.

Oct. 8 (W). Took pictures of some of the children, and the house. In the evening came Mr. and Mrs. Gruggen (he is the master of a grammar school), and Miss De Mallet, and we had some good music and singing.

Oct. 9 (Th). Photographing most of the day. Took a composition-picture, the elopement, Alice getting out of her bedroom window, with a rope ladder, and one of the little bridesmaids, Alice and Polly seen through a picture frame. We went over to the Gruggens in the evening and met a Mrs. Sykes (who escaped from France in ‘89) her daughter, the Baroness De Mallet and her daughter Miss De Mallet.

Oct. 10 (F) Was to have left by the 11.25 train for York, but it did not come till past 3, the engine having broken down. Wilfred and a party of the Donkins also came over to York. They are a very pleasant people to stay with, though the father and boys are quite farmer-like in tone and manner. Mrs Donkin I decidedly liked, and thought Alice very charming, both in look and manner. Reached London by half past nine. Found the Great Western Hotel full as usual, put up at the Norfolk Square.