Sue Smith O.
Google
Our visit begins with a step back in time: the guide paints a picture of Grasmere in the early 1800s, when William Wordsworth lived here with his beloved sister, Dorothy. Dorothy’s journals, alive with observations of nature and daily life, often sparked the very verses that made her brother famous. A short film follows, drawing us deeper into Wordsworth’s world, his reverence for nature, his radical belief in the worth of every human being, and his ability to transform the simplest moments into timeless poetry.
Crossing the threshold of Dove Cottage feels like entering their lives. The rooms are intimate and welcoming, with much of the original furniture still in place, including a striking grandfather clock that seems to tick with the weight of history. Here, William and Dorothy found joy in the simplest pursuits: long walks through the fells, tending their garden, writing late into the night, and sharing conversation with friends. Later, Mary, William’s wife, joined them, and the little house echoed with the laughter and footsteps of children. The pretty cottage garden, bursting with colour and still so peaceful today, was both their sanctuary and their muse. Standing there, it is easy to imagine how its quiet beauty found its way into William’s verse.
From the cottage we move to the exhibition, where Wordsworth’s world comes alive through handwritten letters, notebooks, and first editions. Passages from his works—including The Prelude, his poetic autobiography, are woven through the displays, reminding us of his deep spiritual bond with nature and humanity. Reading about his gentleness, compassion, and commitment to kindness, I can’t help but reflect on how much we might learn today from the way the Wordsworths lived.
Our final stop is an unexpected delight: the studio of resident artist Stacey Joy. Her striking drawings, inspired by Wordsworth’s poetry, invite us to explore time and memory in new ways. Visitors are encouraged to contribute their own ideas to an evolving artwork—a living conversation between past and present. Stacey poses the question: How do we interpret memories and time? It lingers with me. I picture memory as a spiral, looping backwards and forwards through a lifetime—so different from the slow, fragmented progression of my mum, whose dementia steadily erodes her recent memory, pulling her further into the past. The idea of capturing these contrasting journeys through art feels both poignant and powerful.
Leaving Dove Cottage, I feel not only enriched by the story of an extraordinary poet, but deeply moved by the reminder of his humanity. William Wordsworth left us a legacy of literature, yes, but also an enduring example of how to live: with kindness, humility, and reverence for the beauty in people and the world around us.
