Wordsworth House facts for kids
Wordsworth House is a beautiful old house in Cockermouth, Cumbria, England. It was built a long time ago, in the mid-1700s. This house is famous because the well-known poet William Wordsworth was born here in 1770. Today, the National Trust owns and looks after it. You can visit Wordsworth House as a museum from March to October each year. It is a very important historical building.
Contents
The History of Wordsworth House
How the House Was Built
Wordsworth House was built in 1745. It was made for a person named Joshua Lucock. He was an important official in the area at that time.
The Wordsworth Family Home
In 1761, the house was sold to James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale. He let his agent, John Wordsworth, live there for free. John Wordsworth and his wife, Anne Cookson, raised their family in this house. Their famous son, William Wordsworth, was born here in 1770. His sister, Dorothy Wordsworth, and their brothers also grew up in this home.
William Wordsworth lived in the house until he was about eight years old. His mother passed away in 1778. After his father died in 1783, the family moved out. The house then became a private home for many years.
Saving Wordsworth House
By the 1930s, the house was going to be torn down. A bus company bought it to build a bus station. But people across the country wanted to save this important building. They started a big campaign to protect it.
Because of these efforts, the house was bought and given to the National Trust in 1938. The National Trust is a charity that protects historic places. On August 28, 1951, Wordsworth House was officially named a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical site.
Facing the Floods
In November 2009, there were big floods in Cumbria. Many historic houses in the area were affected. Wordsworth House was also hit by the floods. Luckily, volunteers worked quickly to help. They moved many old and valuable items to higher, dry parts of the house. This helped protect the precious historical objects inside.
What the House Looks Like
Wordsworth House is located on Main Street in Cockermouth. It was built in 1745 using strong stone. The corners of the house have special stone blocks called quoins. The front door has decorative columns on each side. These columns are in a style called Doric. There is also a small garden in front of the house.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cumbria
- Listed buildings in Cockermouth
- Dove Cottage
- Rydal Mount
