Rydal Mount, Ambleside

William Wordsworth moved with his family to Rydal Mount on 1st May 1813. He lived here for the rest of his life, until his death at the age of 80 in 1850. The original cottage was first mentioned in parish records in 1574. By the time the Wordsworths moved in, it had been extended and was big enough to accommodate not only William, his wife Mary and their 3 surviving children John, Dora and William, but also his sister Dorothy, and his sister-in-law Sara Hutchinson. Among items of interest on display are Wordsworth's sofa, bookshelf, cutlass chair and a letter from him politely declining the position of Poet Laureate.

The lives of the Wordsworths played out at Rydal Mount. In their correspondence, both Wordsworth and Dorothy document many happy times there. Wordsworth was visited at the house by many luminaries of the day, including William Wilberforce, Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles & Mary Lamb, Nathanial Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The gardens at Rydal Mount are a testament to Wordsworth's passion for gardening. The gardens remain close to his vision and are a wonderful way to experience the embodiment of his Romantic ideals. Rydal Mount allows visitors to step into Wordsworth's world for a fuller understanding of the latter half of his life.

The house still remains in the family and is now owned by the direct descendants of Wordsworth.