History

Wordsworth cottage along with the barn and stable date back to 1670, the date being carved in a beam in the main living room. It still retains a great deal of character and original features - but has been sensitively restored to provide warm and comfortable accommodation!

The Cottage was purchased by the celebrated poet and writer William Wordsworth in 1805. Although he never lived at the cottage, he had strong links to the area - being inspired by the daffodils at the side of Ullswater. He went on to produce one of him most famous works celebrating these flowers.

Click Here to read "I wandered lonely as a cloud" by William Wordsworth.

In 1921 the cottage became home to the celebrated crafts woman Ann Macbeth. She was an important embrioderess and pioneer of craft education. She taught at the Glasgow School of Art and worked with notable arts and crafts designers such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh. She also produced ceremics and glassware. Today her work is very sought after and many top museums have examples of her work.

Examples of her wall hangings can be found in St Patrick's Church in Patterdale including one - The Good Shepherd - which shows as background the view towards Kirkstone from Wordsworth Cottage.

She probably used the barn as a workshop for her crafts - and some of her stained glass can be found in the bedroom windows of Wordsworth barn.

She lived at Wordsworth Cottage until her death in 1948.