Grasmere

Grasmere is probably Cumbria’s most popular village, thanks to William Wordsworth (1770-1850). Today Grasmere is a thriving village, with plenty of gift shops, places to stay & eat.

William Wordsworth & his sister Dorothy moved into Dove Cottage in 1799 until 1808 when they moved to Allan Bank. They lived here for two years until they moved to the Old Rectory opposite St Oswald’s church. In 1813 they moved to Rydal Mount.

In 1850 William died while out walking. He & his wife Mary, who died 9 years later, have a simple tombstone in the churchyard of St Oswald’s which is now one of the most visted literary shrines in the world.

At one of the entrances to the churchyard is a small building which was the village school for 220 years. From its opening in 1630 A.D. William Wordsworth, his wife & his sister all taught here in the early 19th Century. It is now home to the famous Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop.

It is only a short walk to the lake where you can hire rowing boats from March to early November. There is a little island in the middle where William & Mary used to picnic.

You can visit the Grasmere shop to purchase your art. Find us here.