Famous Cumbrians

Born in Cockermouth, the son of an attorney; William attended the infants' school in Penrith with Mary Hutchinson, his future wife. From 1779 to 1787, he attended Hawkshead Grammar School.

Dove Cottage was built in the early part of the 17th Century as a small inn. The inn closed in 1793.

In 1799 Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy moved in.

In 1802 William married Mary Hutchinson, his financial position having been improved by the repayment of a debt on the death of Lord Lonsdale.

Their three oldest children were born at Dove Cottage

• John in 1803
• Dora in 1804
• Thomas in 1806

They lived in the house until May 1808.

Wordsworth had an illegitimate daughter, Caroline. She was born after his youthful affair with a French lady, Annette Vallon, during the time that Wordsworth spent in France during the Revolution

The Wordsworth graves in Grasmere church

The poet and most of his family are buried in Grasmere churchyard, along with Coleridge's son, Hartley.

Next to the churchyard gate is the famous gingerbread shop. It was built in 1660 as a schoolhouse. The little Wordsworths learned their multiplication tables here.

Wordsworth was a fanatical campaigner against the railways being brought into the Lake District. He was instrumental in stopping the line being continued from Windermere through to Keswick.

Wordsworth championed the idea of the Lake District being preserved ‘as a sort of national property’ over 100 years before the National Park was established.

Getting there

By Road
Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum are located south of Grasmere village, on the main A591 Kendal-Keswick road.
The nearest train station is Windermere (which is on the bus route).

By Bus
There is an hourly bus service (no. 555) throughout the year. In summer, an open-top bus (no. W1) runs from Windermere to Grasmere every 20 minutes.

Contact details and address

Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9SH
Telephone. 015394 35544
Fax: +44 (0)15394 3574
E-mail: enquiries@wordsworth.org.uk