Wordsworth House & Garden programming and events 2020
We will be open from Sat 15 Feb to Sun 8 Nov 2020
All events and activities are free with entry to house and garden, unless otherwise stated
BE Booking essential
C Suitable for children aged 4-11. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult
7+ Suitable for children over 7 years
Late evening opening
Scented summer evenings
18 June, 2 & 16 July, 6 & 20 August, 4–8pm (last entry 7pm)
Take an early evening stroll with a glass of prosecco or Pimms around the tranquil riverside garden that gave Wordsworth a lifetime’s poetic inspiration. Relax amid the heady scent of roses and the bright summer flowers, then step inside to meet the maid-of-all-work and discover how the other half lived.
Exhibitions
The Child is Father of the Man
Daily except Friday, 14 March–8 November, 11am–4pm
Our special exhibition celebrating the 250th anniversary of Wordsworth’s birth explores how he was shaped by his wild, outdoor upbringing. Alongside insights from Wordsworth expert Kathleen Jones and poet Helen Mort, evocative photographs by Simon Mooney focus on the ephemeral nature of childhood objects and what their loss or preservation means to us. Admission free with entry to house and garden.
Paid-for events
Sister of my soul
Thursday 23 April, 7.30pm
Torn apart as children, when William Wordsworth was reunited with his sister Dorothy, she became the centre of his world. Wordsworth expert Kathleen Jones discusses the unique sibling relationship that shaped the poet and the man. £10 including glass of wine. Booking essential. Tickets: 01900 824805.
Loved and lost
Thursday 21 May, 7.30pm
Simon Mooney, whose photographs are at the heart of our exhibition, ‘The Child is Father of the Man’, talks about visiting the places that were special to Wordsworth and creating artwork to evoke the emotional power of childhood objects. £5 including coffee and cake. Booking essential. Tickets: 01900 824805.
He gave us eyes
Thursday 25 June, 7.30pm
Jeff Cowton and Michael McGregor, from the Wordsworth Trust, explore the relevance of the poet 250 years after his birth and how this has shaped their new museum and the Reimagining Wordsworth project. £5 including coffee and cake. Booking essential. Tickets: 01900 824805.
In Wordsworth’s footsteps
Thursday 17 September, 7.30pm
Award-winning poet and novelist Helen Mort talks about William Wordsworth, walking and creativity and reads from her own work. £10 including glass of wine. Booking essential. Tickets: 01900 824805.
Walking like Wordsworth
Thursday 15 October, 7.30pm
Door-to-door poet Rowan McCabe shares work created during his 2020 residency at Wordsworth House and Garden and inspired by the lives of ordinary people. £5 including coffee and cake. Booking essential. Tickets: 01900 824805.
Term-time activities
Monday 24 February to Thursday 26 March
Tuesday 14 April to Thursday 21 May
Monday 1 June to Thursday 16 July
Monday 31 August to Thursday 22 October
Monday 2 to Sunday 8 November
Matters of life and death
Monday & Thursday 11.30am
Join us for a 30-minute guided house tour and enjoy a personal insight into the family life that forged one of our greatest poets – plus the story of how this special house was saved from demolition.
Conserving William’s garden
Tuesday (June & September only) 11.30am
Meet the head gardener for a seasonal guided tour of William’s childhood playground and discover what it takes to care for a heritage garden.
Undressing the Wordsworths
Wednesday Talk 11.30am
From louse-filled bigwigs to loose women: join the maid as she strips back the layers to reveal how Georgians dressed and cared for themselves.
William warts and all
Wednesday Talk 2.30pm
Discover – and make up your own mind about – the husband, brother, father and hypochondriac behind some of our best remembered poems.
How green was my Georgian?
Saturday Talk 11.30am
In the Wordsworths’ time, everything from leftover food to teeth and hair was recycled. Find out from the maid if we could learn some useful lessons today.
The horrible truth about Georgian life
Saturday Talk 2.30pm
Step into a world of pinching matches and tipsy toddlers, as the maid describes the strange and often harsh reality of life in the 18th century.
Pastimes from the past [C]
Sunday 11am–4pm
Think outside the Xbox and try your hand at some of the indoor and outdoor games William and Dorothy would have enjoyed.
School holiday activities
February half-term: Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 February (closed Friday)
Easter: Saturday 28 March to Monday 13 April (inc Friday 10)
Every hat tells a story [C]
Monday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Inspired by Dorothy’s baby bonnet, craft a cool paper cap or a handsome hat that says something about you.
Make your mark as a Georgian [C]
Tuesday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Learn about 18th-century letter writing, pen a missive or poem of your own and seal it the Georgian way.
Become a natural artist [C]
Wednesday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Let nature awaken your creativity and make a piece of wild art from found objects or create a poem out of stones.
Spooky stories by the fire [7+]
Thursday 11.30am & 2.30pm
Join the servants by the kitchen fire to hear some of the ghostly tales William and Dorothy might have enjoyed. (Also Fri 10)
Pastimes from the past [C]
Saturday & Sunday 11am–4pm
See term-time
Half-term: Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 May (inc Friday 29)
Every hat tells a story [C]
Monday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Inspired by Dorothy’s baby bonnet, craft a cool cap or a handsome hat that says something about you.
Make your mark as a Georgian [C]
Tuesday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Learn about 18th-century letter writing, pen a missive or poem of your own and seal it the Georgian way.
Become a natural artist [C]
Wednesday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Let nature awaken your creativity and make a piece of wild art from found objects or create a poem out of stones.
Walk on the wild side [C]
Thursday and Friday 11.30am & 2.30pm
Join a costumed servant on a fun, family garden adventure to taste flowers, touch bugs and discover how to turn your own outside space into a wildlife haven.
Pastimes from the past [C]
Saturday & Sunday 11am–4pm
See term-time
Summer: Saturday 18 July to Sunday 30 August
Every hat tells a story [C]
Monday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Inspired by Dorothy’s baby bonnet, craft a cool cap or a handsome hat that says something about you.
Get cooking in the kitchen [C]
Tuesday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Head to the kitchen, roll up your sleeves and try your hand at making traditional Cumbrian clapbread.
Become a natural artist [C]
Wednesday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Let nature awaken your creativity and make a piece of wild art from found objects or create a poem out of stones.
Walk on the wild side [C]
Thursday 11.30am & 2.30pm
Join a costumed servant on a fun, family garden tour to taste flowers, touch bugs and discover how to turn your own outside space into a wildlife haven.
Pastimes from the past [C]
Saturday & Sunday 11am–4pm
See term-time
Half-term: Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November (inc Friday 30)
Every hat tells a story [C]
Monday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Inspired by Dorothy’s baby bonnet, craft a cool cap or a handsome hat that says something about you.
Get cooking in the kitchen [C]
Tuesday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Head to the kitchen, roll up your sleeves and try your hand at making traditional Cumbrian clapbread.
Become a natural artist [C]
Wednesday Drop in 11.30am–3.30pm
Let nature awaken your creativity and make a piece of wild art from found objects or create a poem out of stones.
Spooky stories by the fire [7+]
Thursday & Friday 11.30am & 2.30pm
See Easter
Pastimes from the past [C]
Saturday & Sunday 11am–4pm
See term-time
Special events
Free for locals
Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 March 11am–4pm
Join us for a free visit – just tell us how you found out about this event – and see what’s new for 2020.
Easter eggsplorer hunt [C]
Friday 10–Monday 13 April 11am–4pm
Become an Easter nature eggsplorer and win a Cadbury chocolate prize. £2 per hunt.
William’s 250th birthday
Tuesday 7 April 11am–4pm
Help us celebrate Wordsworth’s 250th birthday with free cake, music, tours and poetry.
Daffodil Day in Cockermouth
Saturday 4 April 11am–4pm
- Talks on William Wordsworth, the man
- Free entry on Saturday 4/4/19
- 2x garden tours by Amanda Thackeray
- Art and craft with the servants
- Presence at All Saints church?
- Town tours finish at WWHG
- Some type of castle opening
Cockermouth Live
Saturday 4 July
Details 2bc – free entry and music.
Heritage Open Day
Saturday 19 September 11am–4pm
Visit the house and garden free of charge and listen to a special talk to celebrate Heritage Open Day.
National Poetry Day
Xxxxxday xx October 11am–4pm
Celebrate National Poetry Day at Wordsworth’s childhood home. Seek inspiration, take in a tour or write a poem and share the things that inspire you.
Normal admission price applies to all events unless otherwise stated.
BE Booking essential
C Suitable for children aged 4-11. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult
7+ Suitable for children over 7 years