A direct descendant of William Wordsworth has spoken of his sadness of having to put the poet’s house up for sale.
Christopher Wordsworth Andrew says that he and his brother Simon Bennie have taken the decision to sell Rydal Mount, near Windermere in the Lake District, because they both live and work in the South of England.
The cost of keeping the house going and open to the public has become prohibitive and the number of visitors has dropped off since Covid.
Rydal Mount and Gardens is looking for offers over two-and-a-half million pounds.
The celebrated poet lived at Rydal Mount for most of his life, from 1813 until his death in 1850.
It was the third and longest-lived in of his three homes in the Lake District, the others being Dove Cottage and Allan Bank, both near Grasmere.
He never owned Rydal Mount, instead renting it from the Baron of Rydal, Sir Richard Le Fleming.
But he made the 16th century, Grade I listed home sits with five acres of grounds very much his own. The gardens remain largely as they were designed by the poet.
The seven-bedroom home once belonged to legendary poet William Wordsworth
A large formal dining room with space for six seats surrounding the traditional dining table
The principal suite, once the bedroom of William and Mary Wordsworth
When the Le Fleming family sold the property, to pay off death duties, in 1969, it was bought by Mary Henderson, the great-great-granddaughter of William Wordsworth.
When she died in 1992, she left it to her grandsons, Christopher, then just 18, and Simon.
‘I don’t even want to think about having to sell it,’ said Christopher, now 51, ‘it is extremely sad.
‘I have been coming up to Rydal eight or nine times a year, and every time I think ‘why don’t I live here’, it is so beautiful.
‘But the truth is that all of the family live south of Oxford,’ said Christopher a financier in wealth management.
‘It has become harder and harder to run from afar. As it is privately owned, if there are any shortfalls, it comes out of our pockets and it has been very difficult since Covid.’
He says the house used to have around 45,000 visitors a year and now has 20,000 or fewer.
The property and grounds have had live in curators and has been open to the public and used for events. It remains open for the 2025 season.
A single bedroom with a wooden chest of drawers and a small bedside table
A spacious seating room complete with some impressive artwork and a cosy fireplace
It is also full of objects related to the Wordsworth family, including the seat the poet liked to sit in while composing his poems.
Christopher says the contents will be divided up among the wider family.
The property is being marketed by Windermere-based Ashdown jones and is on RightMove.
The estate agent said: ‘This extraordinary home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of England’s heritage, surrounded by some of the country’s most stunning landscapes.’
Rydal Mount is the only home to feature views of both Lake Windermere and Rydal Water.
Entry to the house is through an arched porch, before stepping through the glazed front door into a wide hallway.
There are four reception rooms, seven bedrooms in the main house and two additional bedrooms in a separate annexe, which is currently used as a successful holiday let.
The formal dining room is filled with historic features, including original beams and slate flooring, as well as a handsome fireplace.
Another large seating room with comfy sofas and a warm fireplace, perfect for entertaining guests
The gallery landing showcases some more impressive artwork
An expansive drawing room boasts two fires and large windows.A central fire invites you into the snug, where two window seats offer a place to sit and enjoy the views.
Steps bring you to a large boot room, where a door leads outside to a patio area.
The hallway also leads off to a cloakroom, utility room and pantry.
A spindle staircase leads to the upper floor.
Halfway up, there is a landing leading to an office space, which could become another bedroom, a shower room, and the main bedroom.
Once the bedroom of William and Mary Wordsworth, the room boasts beautiful views of Lake Windermere and features a fireplace as well as a sink and a large fourposter bed.Further along the hallway, you will find two bedrooms, one of which belonged to Wordsworth’s daughter, Dora, and the other to his sister, Dorothy.
Continue along the gallery landing to a separate WC and two further large double bedrooms.A curling staircase brings you to a large room with a fireplace, which was once Wordsworth’s private study, and is currently used to display artifacts.
Opposite, there is a large double bedroom featuring exposed beams.
A converted loft becomes a cosy bedroom with a small seating area and storage space
One of the bathrooms features a built-in bathtub for relaxation
There is also a WC, a separate shower room and two large guest bedrooms.
Steps bring you to the kitchen, with a second set descending to the lower floor.Dora’s School Room, which was once a place of learning for Wordsworth’s beloved daughter, is now the famous tearoom at Rydal Mount.
Outside, Rydal Mount has incredible gardens, as well as Grade II listed outbuildings, a summer house, an ancient mound, and extensive parking.
The estate agent said: ‘This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of literary history and become a part of its remarkable story.
