The Wordsworths and Gardening

One of the treasures of Dove Cottage is the steep garden that overlooks the back of the house. William and Dorothy Wordsworth were enthusiastic gardeners. They devoted many hours to growing flowers, and to tending the orchard and the kitchen garden. An escape from the cramped walls of the cottage, the garden became one of their favourite places to read, write, socialise, and rest. How has the garden been transformed since the Wordsworths left it—and should we try to recreate the way it was in their own day?

Dr Jeremy Davies and Dr Jane Roberts join Principal Curator Jeff Cowton to discuss their work, including a project to return the Garden-Orchard at Dove Cottage to the character and spirit in which the Wordsworths knew it. They will also share some of William and Dorothy’s writing on plants, as well as look at manuscripts and books from the Wordsworth Trust’s collection including the Wordsworths’ copy of William Withering’s An arrangement of British plants.

This event accompanies ‘Experiments in Land and Society, 1793–1833’, an Arts and Humanities Research Council project that is supporting new research into the garden and historically informed enhancements to the outdoor spaces at Dove Cottage.

How to book and attend

Please read our guide to booking and attending online events before you purchase a ticket.

Five free tickets are available for those experiencing financial hardship that would otherwise not be able to attend. This is on a first come first served basis with no questions asked about your situation. Please email Hannah at h.catterall@wordsworth.org.uk

Live captions will be provided by Otter.ai

About the speakers

Jeremy Davies is Associate Professor of English at the University of Leeds. He is currently writing a book with the working title ‘The Altered Landscape, 1793-1834’, which links literature and philosophy to experiences of agricultural reform, land reclamation, estate management, horticulture and industrial planning. He is the principal investigator of ‘Experiments in Land and Society, 1793-1833’.

Jane Roberts is Dove Cottage gardener at Wordsworth Grasmere. She was awarded an MA in Garden History from the University of Bristol and a PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of Cumbria. Prior to taking up the role of Dove Cottage gardener in 2019, she was an independent consultant (under the name Botanical Surveys) for 25 years, undertaking plant recording in historic gardens, and running courses on garden history.

This conversation is hosted by Jeff Cowton, Principal Curator & Head of Learning at Wordsworth Grasmere.