Coleridge Cottage facts for kids
Coleridge Cottage at
35, Lime Street, Nether Stowey |
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| Established | 1998 |
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| Location | Nether Stowey, Somerset |
Coleridge Cottage is a historic house in the village of Nether Stowey in Somerset, England. It is famous for being the home of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge from 1797 to 1799. The building is a grade II* listed building, which means it is officially protected because of its historical importance.
The cottage was built in the 17th century. While living here, Coleridge wrote some of his most famous poems. He was a leading figure in the Romantic Movement, a group of writers and artists who were inspired by nature and feelings. His friend, the poet William Wordsworth, often visited him here.
After Coleridge left, the cottage was changed and used for other things. Nearly 100 years later, fans of his work raised money to buy the cottage to preserve his memory. In 1909, they gave it to the National Trust, which now runs it as a museum about the writer's life. The cottage is also the starting point for the Coleridge Way, a 51-mile (82 km) walking trail.
Contents
History of the Cottage
The building started as two separate homes in the 1600s. One house had a living room, kitchen, and service room downstairs with three bedrooms upstairs. Next to it was a barn. Later, these two buildings were joined together to make one larger cottage.
Coleridge's Famous Home
In 1797, Samuel Taylor Coleridge rented the cottage. He was a poet, thinker, and a founder of the Romantic Movement in England. During his three years in Nether Stowey, he had a very creative period.
Here, he wrote famous works like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a long poem about a sailor's supernatural adventures at sea. He also wrote This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison, Frost at Midnight, and part of Christabel.
A famous story from this time is about his poem Kubla Khan. Coleridge said he was writing the poem after having a vivid dream, but he was interrupted by a "person on business from Porlock". After the visitor left, he could not remember the rest of his dream, so the poem was never finished. This story is now a famous example of how creative work can be disrupted.
While Coleridge lived here, his friend William Wordsworth rented a nearby house called Alfoxton Park. They spent a lot of time together, walking and talking about poetry.
Saving the Cottage
After Coleridge moved out in 1800, the cottage was changed and run as an inn. In the late 1800s, more rooms were added and the roof was made higher.
By 1893, a group of Coleridge's admirers wanted to protect the cottage. They worried it might be sold and moved to America. They started a campaign to raise money to buy it. Many important people supported the campaign, and they successfully bought the cottage. A special plaque was put on the wall to celebrate Coleridge's time there.
A Museum for Everyone
In 1909, the cottage was given to the National Trust, an organisation that protects historic places in the UK. The Trust has cared for the cottage ever since, keeping it open for the public to visit.
In 1998, two more rooms upstairs were opened to visitors. In 2011, the National Trust updated the cottage to show what it might have looked like when Coleridge and his family lived there. The old fireplace in the main room was uncovered and can be used again.
The garden was also opened to visitors for the first time. It now has a vegetable patch like one from the 18th century and an area for wildflowers. You can even listen to Coleridge's poetry at special audio posts in the garden.
Inside the cottage, you can see some of Coleridge's personal items. These include his inkstand, locks of his hair, and letters he wrote.
The cottage has won awards for being a great place to visit. In 2013, it won a 'Gold' award for 'Best Small Visitor Attraction' in the South West of England.
See also
- List of National Trust properties in Somerset
- 3, The Grove, Highgate
