William Wordsworth is the quintessential English poet whose romantic writings about his surroundings in the fells of the Lake District were so captivating he became one of the most celebrated people the UK ever since he first published his works in the Victorian age. As Wordsworth’s poetry is so often about the beauty and majesty of his Lake District surroundings it’s no wonder that people often go looking for evidence of his life when they visit the county. If like many you would like to follow in his footsteps here are a number of places you can find William Wordsworth in the Lake District:
Wordsworth House, Cockermouth
Wordsworth House was the childhood home of William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy. This Georgian Townhouse in the town of Cockermouth is now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public to explore both the house and gardens. The house is set up exactly as it would have been when Wordsworth lived here in the 1700s and guides are on hand demonstrating various household chors so you can witness for yourselves the sites, sounds and smells of the age.
Museum of the Old Grammar School, Hawkshead
This grammar-school-turned-museum was once the school of Wordsworth and his sister. It was founded in 1585 and If you want an idea of what schools were like back then this historic location can take you right back to it. The classrooms are still set out in much the same way they were back then and walking around the building can feel like you are stoping back in time. There are historical artefacts and displays throughout which evidence how schools in the Victorian age often ran.
Dove Cottage, Grasmere
You can’t look for Wordsworth in the Lake District without including a visit to Dove Cottage to learn more about the poet. This beautiful and quaint 17th-century cottage was home to both Wordsworth and his sister for much of his famous writings and later his wife and children also. Even if you aren’t a Wordsworth fan this small cottage is still worth a visit to see its fantastic period interior and beautiful sloped garden which has fantastic views of the mountains overlooking the village of Grasmere.
Allan Bank, Grasmere
Allan Bank is a 2 story villa in the village of Grasmere that was the home of William Wordsworth and his sister for 3 years after Dove Cottage. It is now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public to explore both the home and grounds. Wordsworth initially famously hated the large building, thinking it somewhat of an eyesore to the landscape, before moving there to host his growing family.
The Old Rectory, Grasmere
Another of the Wordsworth homes in his beloved Grasmere was The Old Rectory, which was situated opposite St Oswald’s Church. He stayed here for merely another 2 years before this too was deemed unsuitable for his large family.
Rydal Mount, Rydal
Rydal Mount was the last home of Wordsworth. This quaint cottage has stunning views and a beautiful garden which can now be explored by the public. It even boasts a traditional tearoom which is well worth stopping at for a spot of afternoon tea. The whole place holds a rather romantic feel and is still owned by the Wordsworth family to this day. It was originally built in the 16th century although it has been expanded many times since then. The gardens consist of 5 acres and are much the same as they were when Wordsworth lived here, including the rock pools and an ancient mound.
The Wordsworth’s Family Graves, Grasmere
In the centre of Grasmere is St Oswalds Church where you can find the grave of William Wordsworth alongside the graves of his wife and children. Nearby is also the grave of his sister Dorothy, who helped him with much of his writing and whom he lived with in many of the above homes.
Wordsworth Daffodil Garden, Grasmere
In the same St Oswald’s Church grounds you can also find the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden which consists of a small garden surrounded by Daffodils with places to stop and reflect on the words of Wordsworth. The words of his most famous poem Daddodil are etched around the garden here.
Dora’s Field, Rydal
Dora’s Field sits beside St Mary’s Church in Rydal which is filled with daffodils in memory of Wordsworth’s daughter Dora. He planted 100’s of daffodils to fill the field neat his Rydal Mount home after his daughter died at the age of 42.
Glencoyne Bay, Ullswater
Glencoyne Bay is the place where Wordsworth and his sister were walking when he got the inspiration for his most famous poem, Daffodils, after he saw them here close to the waterside and discussed their beauty.
Long Meg and Her Daughters, near Penrith
Long Meg and her Daughters isn’t the description of a family as you may expect and is actually the name of an ancient stone circle within Cumbria. Local legend claims that the stones represent a witch named ‘Long Meg’ and the other stones where her daughters that have been turned to stone by a wizard. William Wordsworth often wrote that “Next to Stonehenge it is beyond dispute the most notable relic that this or probably any other country contains.” and later wrote a poem just on this monument named The monument commonly called Long Meg.
So if you want to get to know Wordsworth in the Lake District there are plenty of places to go and see just why this beautiful landscape provided such a great inspiration for the most popular romantic poet of our age.
