The Lake District Wiki everything about the Lake District in England.

From Lake District

Wordsworth House

Wordsworth House, which is situated in Cockermouth, which forms part of the Western Lakes, is a Georgian townhouse in which the famous poet and Poet Laureate, William Wordsworth was born. His father, John Wordsworth, moved to Cockermouth as agent to Sir James Lowther in 1764. He married Anne Cookson in 1766 and moved rent free into what is now known as the Wordsworth House. John and Anne Wordsworth had five children of whom William was the second and Dorothy the third. In total there were four boys and one girl. Unfortunately, Anne Wordsworth died when William was eight and thereafter he spent most of his time with relatives in Penrith. His father, John, died five years later and in 1784 all the children finally left the house to be cared for by relatives.

The house was a private residence until the late 1930's, when the Cockermouth Library tried to raise funds to buy it. However, a local bus company bought it with the intention of demolishing the house to erect a new bus station in it's place. Fortunately, with the assistance of the national media, enough funds were raised for the town to buy back the house. The house was then handed over to the National Trust by Cockermouth, and on 3 June 1939 it opened as a memorial to Wordsworth. The house became a Grade 1 listed building.

The National Trust, along with skilled craftsmen, conservators and historians, have restored Wordsworth House to give the visitor a glimpse into the childhood years of William Wordsworth. This interesting Georgian townhouse is open to the public, however, it is advisable to check the Wordsworth House website for events and opening times.

Main tourist towns

Windermere Bowness on Windermere Ambleside Coniston Hawkshead Keswick

All Towns & Villages

Towns and Villages

Lake District categories

Northern Lake District Southern Lake District Western Lake District Eastern Lake District

Lake District Lakes and Waters

Lake Windermere Coniston Water Derwent Water Ullswater

Suggesting a page for the wiki

Please email admin if there's a page you would like to see on the wiki or if you would like to bring our attention to something already on the wiki. Admin

External holiday accommodation

For a range of Lake District accommodation visit Search Cumbria