Wordsworth House and Garden

Who we are

Wordsworth House and Garden offers a unique opportunity to experience late 18th-century life at first hand. The Georgian townhouse, in the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, was the birthplace and childhood home of romantic poet William and his sister Dorothy. It has been brought back to life by the National Trust’s costumed servants who work at the house as if it is still the 18th century. Children are able to immerse themselves in the bustling family home where they get the opportunity to meet and talk with the servants and use all their senses to experience what it was like to live in the 1770s. Wordsworth House’s main schools sessions are for KS1 and 2 but they will also tailor activities for early years, older students and pupils with Special Educational Needs. Guided sessions are available for KS1 and 2 which explore; what people ate and how they cooked in the 18th century; what it was like to be a child at the time; health and medicine; how we grow food; songs and music; an introduction to William’s nature poetry; and creative writing. The sessions, which are led by the servants or other members of staff, involve handling objects, role play and exploring the house and gardens. There are also four teacher-led sessions available covering: portraits; exploring objects from Wordsworth’s time; 18th-century writing, postage, travel and money; and a creative writing session using the senses. There are charges for school visits and activities.