The future of Rydal Mount, the final home of world-renowned poet William Wordsworth, has been secured thanks to a landmark acquisition by the Wordsworth Trust, working in partnership with The Julia Rausing Trust and the Charlotte Aitken Trust.
The historic property, which had recently been placed on the market by Wordsworth’s descendants, faced an uncertain future after the rising costs of operating the attraction in its current format became unsustainable. The purchase ensures that Rydal Mount will be preserved for public benefit and protected for future generations.
The UK’s Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage said: Wordsworth pressed the reset button on poetry, and his work retains its power and relevance today. I’m delighted that the Wordsworth Trust, an institution I have close connections with, is acquiring the iconic home of one of my heroes and forefathers as Poet Laureate, and that Rydal Mount will continue to be a place of creativity and inspiration.
Commenting on the purchase, Wordsworth Trust Director, Michael McGregor said: We are delighted that there is going to be continued public access to Rydal Mount. The news of its sale came as a cautionary tale of how precarious the Wordsworths’ heritage in the Lake District has become. Having worked closely with the owners of Rydal Mount for many years we were able to have early and open discussions with them regarding its future. However, the purchase would not have been possible without The Julia Rausing Trust and the Charlotte Aitken Trust, whose generosity has enabled us to save and protect this important Wordsworth property for future generations.
Acquiring Rydal Mount gives us an opportunity to tell a much richer story about the lives and works of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. The Wordsworth Trust has been the custodian of Dove Cottage, the Wordsworths’ first Lake District home, since it was founded in 1891. It also looks after an internationally significant archive, with the vast majority of William Wordsworth’s verse drafts and Dorothy Wordsworth’s Grasmere and Rydal Journals at its heart.
McGregor continued: What many people are unaware of is that the Wordsworth Trust does so much more than simply manage Wordsworth Grasmere, the visitor attraction based at Dove Cottage. As a charity, we deliver educational and community programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds. We plan in time to expand this offer through Rydal Mount.
Wordsworth’s descendants Christopher Andrew and Simon Bennie commented: Since our grandmother bought Rydal Mount back into the Wordsworth family, we have worked hard to keep the house open, allowing the public to enjoy its unique family atmosphere. We have been lucky and proud to be the guardians of the house and its remarkable contents over the last 57 years. Over the years we have had a very good relationship with the Wordsworth Trust, and so it was with great relief that, at the beginning of the sale process, it became clear that Rydal Mount was likely to pass into their safe hands. Whilst we are sad to be leaving the Lake District, we retain a host of happy memories. We would like to thank the multitude of visitors who have passed through the house, and also, particularly, all the staff who have worked with us over the last five decades to keep the house and garden such a special place.
The next phase of the project is to explore sustainable options for Rydal Mount’s future operation, but the purchase confirms that the property will be preserved for public use in some form. As a much larger house with extensive grounds, Rydal Mount offers a different perspective to Dove Cottage and presents exciting opportunities to further explore the Wordsworths’ deep connection to nature and the environment.
The acquisition has been made possible thanks to the generosity of The Julia Rausing Trust and the Charlotte Aitken Trust.
Simon Fourmy, Chief Executive of The Julia Rausing Trust, said: Helping to preserve the UK’s cultural heritage is an important part of The Julia Rausing Trust’s mission, and we are pleased to support the Wordsworth Trust in the landmark acquisition of Rydal Mount. As the long-time home of William Wordsworth, the house offers a unique insight into the poet’s life, and charitable stewardship will ensure it remains a place where generations can engage with his legacy. We hope that this acquisition will provide a strong foundation for the Wordsworth Trust to expand its educational and community programmes over time.
Sebastian Faulks, Chair of the Charlotte Aitken Trust said: The Charlotte Aitken Trust is proud to be playing a key part in supporting the Wordsworth Trust in the acquisition of Rydal Mount and its spectacular gardens. We are delighted that the names of Gillon Aitken and his daughter Charlotte will be permanently attached to a project of such ambition, whose scope will help preserve the legacy of one of this country’s greatest writers and make it available to the public in perpetuity.
The Wordsworth Trust will be making further announcements in due course with regards to future plans for Rydal Mount.
However, for the immediate future the house and grounds will remain closed to the public, while essential maintenance work is carried out.
For more information about the Wordsworth Trust visit wordsworth.org.uk