Rydal Mount’s future secured
Rydal Mount, located about two miles from Dove Cottage, is where William, Dorothy and Mary Wordsworth lived for much of their adult lives. The house was acquired by the poet’s descendants in 1969, and the family have since opened it to the public for over 50 years. Over time, the Wordsworth family found it increasingly difficult to manage Rydal Mount from a distance: in 2025, they made the difficult decision to put it on the market.
Over the last year the Wordsworth Trust has been working with the Wordsworth family and with funders to secure Rydal Mount’s future. We are now delighted to share that, thanks to the generous support of The Julia Rausing Trust and the Charlotte Aitken Trust, ownership of Rydal Mount has been transferred to the Wordsworth Trust.
There will be a period of closure while surveys, conservation assessments and planning for future operations are completed.
We are now working with our funders and potential partners to explore sustainable models for Rydal Mount’s future operation. The Wordsworth Trust has a long history of protecting and sharing the Wordsworths’ heritage in the Lake District: Rydal Mount presents us with an incredible opportunity to further inspire and benefit the public for generations to come. Much like Dove Cottage, Rydal Mount is a place that nurtured the Wordsworths’ imaginations, creativity and enduring connection with the natural world.
About Rydal Mount
Rydal Mount is a grade-I listed building in the small village of Rydal, about 2 miles from Dove Cottage in Grasmere.
The house and gardens are of outstanding interest because of their association with the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, who moved into the house with his family in 1813 and lived there for the greater part of his adult life, until his death in 1850.
It was during his Rydal Mount years that Wordsworth achieved the greatest level of fame during his lifetime and in 1843, was appointed Poet Laureate. Wordsworth received many prominent visitors at Rydal Mount, including: Thomas Arnold; Ralph Waldo Emerson; Harriet Martineau; John Stuart Mill; Alfred, Lord Tennyson and William Wilberforce.
After William Wordsworth’s death, Rydal Mount remained the home of his sister Dorothy and his wife Mary. Dorothy is most well-known for her Grasmere journal, written at Dove Cottage; the journal that she kept at Rydal (which is also in our collection) has only recently been published. It was also at Rydal Mount that Mary posthumously published The Prelude, Wordsworth’s epic autobiographical poem and a seminal work in Romantic literature.
Rydal Mount is also significant for its sizeable garden, which was landscaped and designed by Wordsworth. Its five acres of grounds contain a summerhouse and the outbuilding known as ‘Dora Wordsworth’s Schoolroom’, named for William and Mary Wordsworth’s eldest daughter.
Key dates
2026
Rydal Mount acquired by the Wordsworth Trust
1969
Rydal Mount purchased by Wordsworth family
1967
Rydal Mount listed on the National Heritage List for England
1891
Dove Cottage opened to the public; the Wordsworth Trust founded
1850
William Wordsworth's death
1843
William Wordsworth appointed Poet Laureate
1813
William, Mary and Dorothy Wordsworth move to Rydal Mount
1574
First reference to Rydal Mount, in a parish register
In the news
Questions & Answers
Why has the Wordsworth Trust acquired Rydal Mount?
The Wordsworth Trust has acquired Rydal Mount to secure the long-term future of a site that is central to the story of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. As a larger house with extensive grounds, designed by William, Rydal Mount allows the Wordsworth Trust the opportunity to deepen public understanding of the Wordsworths’ relationship with nature, creativity and the environment in a way that complements Dove Cottage.
The Wordsworth Trust already holds many manuscripts, artworks, books and family possessions from the Wordsworths’ years living at Rydal Mount, making it uniquely positioned to tell the site’s story and preserve its legacy. By bringing Rydal Mount into its care, the Trust ensures that the house and gardens can continue to inspire and benefit the public for generations to come.
Why is Rydal Mount important?
Rydal Mount is one of the most significant literary heritage sites in the UK and a vital part of William and Dorothy Wordsworth’s story. It was their family home from 1813 to 1859 and much like Dove Cottage, was a place that nurtured their imagination, creativity and enduring connection with the natural world.
The Wordsworth Trust cares for a Designated collection of over 68,000 objects, which includes the greatest collection of the Wordsworth family manuscripts anywhere in the world. As many of these unique manuscripts, books, artworks and family possessions originate from the Wordsworths’ time at Rydal Mount, the Wordsworth Trust is very well placed to share Rydal Mount’s story and preserve its legacy.
When did the acquisition of Rydal Mount take place?
Rydal Mount was put on the market in 2025 by Wordsworth’s descendants. The historic property faced an uncertain future after rising costs of operating it as a visitor attraction in its current format became unsustainable. The Wordsworth Trust was able to acquire the property thanks to support from The Julia Rausing Trust and the Charlotte Aitken Trust in March 2026.
How was the purchase of Rydal Mount funded?
The purchase of Rydal Mount was made possible through the generosity of The Julia Rausing Trust and the Charlotte Aitken Trust who together have provided the funding required to secure the property and support the next phase of feasibility work.
What are the next steps for Rydal Mount?
The Wordsworth Trust’s immediate priority is to safeguard Rydal Mount for the future by undertaking a thorough conservation assessment and subsequent, sensitive work to conserve the unique fabric of the house and grounds.
Our ultimate aim is to secure Wordsworth’s legacy in the Lake District by making Rydal Mount a place of inspiration and creativity that can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. The Wordsworth Trust does so much more than simply manage the visitor attraction Wordsworth Grasmere. As a charity, we deliver creative, educational and community programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds. We plan in time to expand this offer through Rydal Mount, and the next phase of the project is to explore financially sustainable ways to achieve this.
What are your plans for Rydal Mount?
We are commissioning a detailed feasibility study to determine the most viable operating model for Rydal Mount. We want to ensure that we consult as widely as possible. All potential uses will be explored, and no firm decisions have been made at this stage. With the removal of the collections, which remain in the ownership of the Wordsworth family, Rydal Mount presents us with a blank canvas to explore.
We have a clear initial vision for the site, which is to celebrate the creativity of William and Dorothy Wordsworth and the landscape that inspired them.
Our principal reason for acting now, ahead of the feasibility study, is to secure the property and ensure that it can continue to provide public benefit.
How does Rydal Mount fit into the Wordsworth Trust’s long-term vision?
The Wordsworth Trust has a long history of protecting and sharing the Wordsworths’ heritage in the Lake District: Rydal Mount strengthens our ability to interpret and preserve the Wordsworth legacy and presents us with an incredible opportunity to further inspire and benefit the public for generations to come. Much like Dove Cottage, Rydal Mount is a place that nurtured the Wordsworths’ imaginations, creativity and enduring connection with the natural world.
Will Rydal Mount need to close for a period?
Yes. There will be a period of closure while surveys, conservation assessments and planning for future operations are completed. While Rydal Mount and gardens are closed, visitors can enjoy a visit to Wordsworth Grasmere, which remains fully open and offers a rich and beautifully curated experience of the Wordsworth story at Dove Cottage.
Will the Wordsworth family still be involved in Rydal Mount?
We have collaborated with the Wordsworth family on many occasions over the years. We remain in close and positive conversation with the family, who have shown great care and guardianship of the house and its gardens over the last 57 years. Whilst the family will be leaving the Lake District following the sale, we hope to continue the relationship we have built with them into the future. The Wordsworth family will retain the collections that were on display at Rydal Mount.
How can I stay updated on the Rydal Mount project?
We will share updates through this webpage, social media channels and email newsletters as the project progresses. Visitors can sign up online to receive the latest news about Rydal Mount and its future.
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Rydal Mount’s future secured
Rydal Mount’s future secured
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