William Wordsworth’s grave resides in the area he is synonymous with – the Lake District. As well as being born in Cockermouth, he also lived in three homes around Grasmere and Rydal. And his grave is in St Oswald’s churchyard in Grasmere.
A man who lived up to his name
Wordsworth (a man formed by nominative determinism if ever there was one), was born in 1770. Both his parents died before he was fifteen and he and his siblings grew up with various relatives. His first poems were published in 1793. In 1798, he collaborated with fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge on ‘Lyrical Ballads’. This book signals the start of the Romantic movement.
In 1799, Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy moved to Dove Cottage in Grasmere in the Lake District. And it was here he wrote his most famous poem, ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ in 1804, inspired by a trip to nearby Ullswater.
In 1813, he and his family moved to Rydal Mount where he remained there until his death in 1850. His later work isn’t considered as good as his earlier poetry, but he was still made poet laureate in 1843.
William Wordsworth’s grave
William Wordsworth is buried in Grasmere, along with his wife, sister, brother, and children. The simple headstone has no epitaph. Next to the church is the “Wordsworth Daffodil Garden”, with a path created by sponsored stones from around the world, and planted with daffodil bulbs (sadly over when we visited).
Wordsworth loved the Lake District. The natural world massively influenced him as an artist and many of his poems. The wild and diverse landscape of the Lake District provided great inspiration to him, so it’s no surprise he settled here. It is a stunning area, with high fells, wandering sheep, still Tarns, and of course the deep, ever-changing lakes. If you are a fan of Wordsworth or the Romantic era, it should definitely be on your list of places to visit.
What do you think? Have you visited here before? Please share in the comments.
25/07/2022 at 5:45 AM
Not certain I’ll ever get over the Great Blue, to visit there, but, it’s okay! In some way? I have visited, simply because you wrote about it! THANK YOU!!!
I LOVE the poem “I wandered lonely as a cloud” – and yet, not one I ever memorized, and sadly, until reading this – remembered a line, here and there, but could not have told anyone, the author, of top of my head – bet I don’t forget it now!
It’s now forever connected in my mind with the images shared, and the bloggy pal I follow from far away! I may/may never be able to recite it well, from memory – but still – more ways it my brain to get to the ‘accessing of it, with back up of a bookmark in tech land! 😀
30/07/2022 at 3:22 PM
Thank you for your comment. Part of the reason I like to post these visits is because I hope people all over the world can come “visit” with me. There are places I probably won’t get either, but I can still see them because other people post about them.
30/07/2022 at 8:27 PM
Exactly! The REAL Virtual Travel Bureau available to many! Thank you for your contributions to the ‘destinations possible to visit’ list for many, including me! <3