<P> In a small town , Charlie Bucket , a poor paperboy , watches a group of children visit a candy shop . Walking home , he passes Willy Wonka 's chocolate factory . A mysterious tinker recites the first lines of William Allingham 's poem `` The Fairies '' , and tells Charlie , `` Nobody ever goes in , and nobody ever comes out . '' Charlie rushes home to his widowed mother and bedridden grandparents . After telling Grandpa Joe about the tinker , Joe reveals that Wonka locked the factory because other candy makers , including rival Arthur Slugworth , sent in spies to steal his recipes . Wonka disappeared , but after three years resumed selling candy ; the origin of Wonka 's labor force is unknown . </P>
where does charlie live in willy wonka and the chocolate factory
In a small town