Rydal Mount is a house in the small village of Rydal, near

Ambleside Ambleside is a town and former civil parish, now in the parish of Lakes, in Cumbria, in North West England. Historically in Westmorland, it marks the head (and sits on the east side of the northern headwater) of Windermere, England's largest n ...

in the English Lake District. It is best known as the home of the poet

William Wordsworth William Wordsworth (7 April 177023 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication ''Lyrical Ballads'' (1798). Wordsworth's '' ...

from 1813 to his death in 1850. It is currently operated as a

writer's home museum Writers' homes (sometimes writer's, author's or literary houses) are locations where writers lived. Frequently, these homes are preserved as historic house museums and literary tourism destinations, called writer's home museums, especially when ...

History

Wordsworth was born in

Cockermouth Cockermouth is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England, so named because it is at the confluence of the River Cocker as it flows into the River Derwent. The mid-2010 census estimates state that Cocke ...

in Cumberland in 1770, and knew the Lake District well from his childhood. He moved away to study at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

in 1787, and then travelled in Britain and continental Europe for 12 years. He spent over 8 years at

Dove Cottage Dove Cottage is a house on the edge of Grasmere in the Lake District of England. It is best known as the home of the poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy Wordsworth from December 1799 to May 1808, where they spent over eight years ...

in nearby Grasmere from 1799 to 1808, but was forced to move to accommodate his growing family and many visitors. After a period in

Allan Bank Allan Bank is a grade II listed two-storey villa standing on high ground slightly to the west of Grasmere village in the heart of the Lake District. It is best known for being from 1808 to 1811 the home of William Wordsworth, but it was also ...

in Grasmere, the Wordsworths moved to Rydal Mount in 1813. Both Grasmere and

Windermere Windermere (sometimes tautologically called Windermere Lake to distinguish it from the nearby town of Windermere) is the largest natural lake in England. More than 11 miles (18 km) in length, and almost 1 mile (1.5 km) at its wides ...

lakes can be seen from the hillside grounds of Rydal Mount. William designed the layout of the gardens at Rydal, and he often said that those grounds were his office as opposed to the spacious office/writing room in his house. On the high side of the grounds, tucked away from the main house, but overlooking both the grounds and the two nearby lakes, he built the "Writing Hut" where he spent most of his writing time. This hut consisted merely of a bench with a small roof, but it provided shelter from the frequent rains and escape from the house. He lived the rest of his life there until his death at the age of 80, and he frequently was visited by

Samuel Taylor Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge (; 21 October 177225 July 1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lak ...

who would walk down from his home in Keswick. The Wordsworths continued to rent this property for 46 years, following William's death in 1850 to the death of his wife, Mary, in 1859. Rydal Mount was acquired in 1969 by Mary Henderson (''née'' Wordsworth), William's great great granddaughter. It remains in the ownership of the Wordsworth family, and has been opened to the public since 1970.

Gallery

Image:RydalMount.jpg, A panoramic photograph of Rydal Mount Image:RydalMount1.jpg, Gardens landscaped by William Wordsworth Image:Wordsworth Plaque.jpg, A commemorative plaque in the poet's house by John Shaw

References

External links

*
Rydal Mount Guide to the Lake District
{{coord, 54.4487, -2.9824, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Museums established in 1970 Gardens in Cumbria Historic house museums in Cumbria Biographical museums in Cumbria Literary museums in England Poetry museums Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria William Wordsworth Tourist attractions in Cumbria 1970 establishments in England Grade I listed houses Grade II listed parks and gardens in Cumbria

History

Gallery

See also

References

External links