Harry Potter Creator JK Rowling Shares Series Origins

J.K. Rowling is the creator of the mega-hit Harry Potter series and revealed the origins of the novels to fans on Twitter this week. One asked a question about where the story of the “Boy Who Lived” began. The popular story goes that it was in a coffee shop in Edinburgh called Elephant House. But, the author decided to do a deep dive with her fans, and the results were kind of amazing to watch unfurl. She told her followers that all of Harry’s adventures sprung from a flat in Clapham Junction. This isn’t that out of the ordinary for the author as she has been known to shake things up on Twitter in a major way. Whether it relates to characters and how they fit together or different orientations, Rowling has never been one to let the series be.

“I was thinking of putting a section on my website about all the alleged inspirations and birthplaces of Potter,” she told Miguel Rodriguez on Twitter. “I’d been writing Potter for several years before I ever set foot in this cafe, so it’s not the birthplace, but I *did* write in there so we’ll let them off!”

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Rowling continued, “For instance, I never visited this bookshop in Oporto. Never even knew of its existence! It’s beautiful and I wish I *had* visited it, but it has nothing to do with Hogwarts!”

I was thinking of putting a section on my website about all the alleged inspirations and birthplaces of Potter. I’d been writing Potter for several years before I ever set foot in this cafe, so it’s not the birthplace, but I *did* write in there so we’ll let them off! https://t.co/xDOsrbiZwu
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

“This is the true birthplace of Harry Potter, if you define ‘birthplace’ as the spot where I put pen to paper for the first time.* I was renting a room in a flat over what was then a sports shop,” the author added. “The first bricks of Hogwarts were laid in a flat in Clapham Junction.”

For other fans she had this to say, “* If you define the birthplace of Harry Potter as the moment when I had the initial idea, then it was a Manchester-London train. But I’m perennially amused by the idea that Hogwarts was directly inspired by beautiful places I saw or visited, because it’s so far from the truth.”

The Harry Potter scribe also mentioned, “This building is in Manchester and used to be the Bourneville Hotel (Pretty sure it’s this building. It might be the one along). Anyway, I spent a single night there in 1991, and when I left next morning, I’d invented Quidditch.”

Did you ever believe any of those rumors about the cafes or libraries inspiring Harry Potter? Let us know in the comments!

Not this bookshop

For instance, I never visited this bookshop in Oporto. Never even knew of its existence! It’s beautiful and I wish I *had* visited it, but it has nothing to do with Hogwarts! pic.twitter.com/f83rxBeeyY
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

TRUE Birthplace

This is the true birthplace of Harry Potter, if you define ‘birthplace’ as the spot where I put pen to paper for the first time.* I was renting a room in a flat over what was then a sports shop. The first bricks of Hogwarts were laid in a flat in Clapham Junction. pic.twitter.com/HVORnPVboK
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

To be specific

* If you define the birthplace of Harry Potter as the moment when I had the initial idea, then it was a Manchester-London train. But I’m perennially amused by the idea that Hogwarts was directly inspired by beautiful places I saw or visited, because it’s so far from the truth.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

S/o to Bourneville

This building is in Manchester and used to be the Bourneville Hotel (Pretty sure it’s this building. It might be the one along). Anyway, I spent a single night there in 1991, and when I left next morning, I’d invented Quidditch. pic.twitter.com/gNzAanTw20
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

Clarification

I sometimes hear Hogwarts was based on one or other of Edinburgh’s schools, but that’s 100% false, too. Hogwarts was created long before I clapped eyes on any of them! I did finish Hallows in the Balmoral, though, & I can’t lie, I’d rate it a smidge higher than the Bournville. pic.twitter.com/Evt0ttqfYH
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

This one is TRUE!

That one’s true! I used to write in Nicolsons all the time. I once wrote an entire chapter in there in one sitting and barely changed a word afterwards. Those are the days you remember. I think Nicolsons is now a Chinese Restaurant. pic.twitter.com/JNKDP0ywJK
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

So freaking specific

I wrote the bit where Harry buys his wand sitting under a tree, appropriately enough. (I can’t absolutely guarantee they haven’t taken away the old tree & planted a new one in the same corner of the field. I haven’t been there for nearly 30 years. But I think it’s this one.) pic.twitter.com/29IA3eHHl9
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

Also correct

Yes, both of these are untrue, I’m afraid. I can’t remember ever going to the Old Firehouse when I was a student and Gandy Street is nothing like the Diagon Alley in my head. pic.twitter.com/6kR0EmGrLq
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

Majestic Cafe

If it cheers up the people who’re disappointed about the bookshop in Oporto, I wrote in here sometimes. This was probably the most beautiful café I ever wrote in, actually. The Majestic Cafe on Rua Santa Catarina. pic.twitter.com/xo2UUYzb0n
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

Uh-oh

Well, looks like I’ve got a fight on my hands, because I’ve never seen or been to the Shambles… pic.twitter.com/txA98CK1hx
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

Absolute shock

My favourite bit of utter nonsense about Potter landmarks is still this one. I can’t drive. pic.twitter.com/szugSAkIOA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

Here we go

I made the mistake of mentioning Quidditch in this thread and I’m now receiving the usual complaints about the scoring system. I’ve already explained, but for those who never saw it the first time, here you go. pic.twitter.com/Ela3MDFbDA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020

Sorry everyone

No and no, sorry. A truthful tour of HP ‘inspirations’ would involve a stationery guide pointing a stick at a picture of my head, which would be zero fun and nobody would buy tickets. If I’d genuinely been inspired by every old building, creepy alleyway, pub, graveyard and 1/2 pic.twitter.com/RICWrwYxkD
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 22, 2020

It was hard times

underpass that’s claimed, I’d have spent my late 20s on a non-stop road trip between locations and I promise I didn’t. I was mostly sitting in places I could get a cheap coffee/could afford the rent & making it all up. 2/2
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 22, 2020

This is a GOOD one

Real Harry Potter inspiration alert: I walked past this sign every day on my way to work when I was living in Clapham . Much later – post-publication – I revisited the area & suddenly realised THIS was why ‘Severus’ had leapt into my head when thinking of a 1st name for Snape. pic.twitter.com/q5wzsQb3m9
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 23, 2020