In an unnamed town, children visit a candy shop. Charlie Bucket, a poor paperboy, stares through the window as the shop owner sings "The Candy Man ''. 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.
where is willy wonka and the chocolate factory based
an unnamed town