Wordsworth, Penrith and Barton Wed 18 Sept 2019

 You can find an index to my other walks here

While camping in Langdale I drove to Penrith, but not via Pooley Bridge as the new bridge was being installed. I managed to find a two hour parking place in the town and went to see where Wordsworth had spent a lot of his early childhood living with his grandparents the Cooksons. William hated it. There is still a draper's shop there, called Arnisons, and there are some superb quality suits and other clothes for sale.

Nearby was the Information room, where I was introduced to one of the two curators of the museum. We had a chat about the Wordsworth children and their poor relationship with their Uncle Kit. The curator wasn't quite so sure that it had been the uncle's fault, nor that William's unhappiness had been caused by the grandparents. I think he blamed poor William, who did have a temper.

After all this I was surprised to find I still had lots of time, so I went over to Sockbridge, and then to Barton Church, where there is an excellent booklet about the building, but also with references to Wordsworth that I had not known about. 

Then by dint of the references went to find Wordsworth House (formerly Sockbridge House) and also located the Friends' Burial Ground, where John Gough, the man who died after falling from Striding Edge, is buried.

All-in-all a very profitable day's activities.

Index