Grasmere - Town End - Dove Cottage


Today, I'm going to take you to the little hamlet of Town End, a grandiose name, for the town in question is the village of Grasmere in the heart of The Lake District. We're going to visit an early 18th century alehouse, which was converted into a cottage later in that century. In 1799, a brother and sister from Cockermouth moved into the renamed Dove Cottage. They were both amateur naturalists, although better known as a poet and diarist respectively. Their names were William and Dorothy Wordsworth.



An extract from one of Dorothy's diaries, and one of William's poems, will give a flavour of their life there as the 19th century was ushered in:


"William had slept badly – he got up at 9 o clock, but before he rose he had finished with the Beggar Boys – & while we were at Breakfast that is (for I had Breakfasted) he, with his Basin of Broth before him untouched & a little plate of Bread and butter he wrote the Poem to a Butterfly! – He ate not a morsel, nor put on his stockings but sate with shirt neck unbuttoned, & his waistcoat open while he did it. The thought first came upon him as we were talking about the pleasure we both always feel at the sight of a Butterfly."

— Dorothy Wordsworth, The Grasmere Journal, Sunday 14 March 1802












The cottage, which is quite roomy, has been recreated with furniture, objects from the period, and extracts from their writings, and is fascinating. Putting on my other, antiques collector, hat, I recognised the tea set as early 19th century Miles Mason porcelain (highly collectable now). This, I know, as I have recently put up an identical tea bowl for sale at SVCwithEtsy. Note: tea bowl, not tea cup!
Miles Mason tea bowl, circa 1805, from SVCwithEtsy     





Undoubtedly, one of their local nature walks would have taken them alongside the River Rothay which runs through the village. Here, they may well have seen Forestflies emerging from the water. These are part of the Stonefly group of insects, which are not flies at all (like so many other insects called flies), but an ancient order all of their own, dating back some 299 million years. True flies didn't come along for another 44 million years. If you're fascinated but confused by the beautiful world of the very small then may I recommend my Quick Guide to Creepy-Crawlies , £14.99 from Amazon.

I hope that you've enjoyed our little trip back into the 19th century. Until next time, all the best, Steve.

This page is sponsored by SVCwithEtsy 

Location: Grasmere, Ambleside LA22, UK

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