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TEME VALLEY TIMES JAN/FEB 2012 13


th - in Cumbria and Herefordshire Herefordshire


Kimbolton Church Brinsop Church


Brinsop Court INSET: William Wordsworth window, Brinsop Church


William and Dorothy had toured the Wye Valley in the 1790s but when William's brother-in-law, Thomas Hutchinson, moved to Brinsop Court, a couple of miles northwest of Hereford, a firm family connection was created. The Wordsworths visited the Hutchinsons at Brinsop in the 1820s, 1830s and 1840s. The church has windows


commemorating William, Mary, Dorothy and also Dora, William and Mary's daughter. Jane Winder, a servant of theirs, died at Brinsop and her gravestone is in the cemetery. The Hutchinsons moved to Mathon, near Colwall, in 1845.


Poet's Stone, Leysters


A more local connection arises through another Thomas Hutchinson (Mary's nephew), Vicar of Kimbolton from 1841 to 1903, the family home being 'Grantsfield'. The Wordsworths took many walks and the Poet's Stone at Leysters takes its name from them, for it is said that they sat on this stone while taking a rest in 1845. The initials WW and MW, carved on the stone, commemorate this visit.


More information Cumbria Tourism: www.golakes.co.uk (01539 822222)


Hawkshead Grammar: www.hawksheadgrammar.org.uk (015394 36735) Dove Cottage: www.wordsworth.org.uk (015394 35544) Rydal Mount: www.rydalmount.co.uk (015394 33002)


Wordsworth House: www.wordsworthhouse.org.uk (01900 820884) The National Trust has a range of other attractions in Cumbria, even including a steam gondola on Coniston - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gondola


The Trout Hotel, Cockermouth This attractive building is a short walk from the centre of Cockermouth, itself an interesting town. Like much of Cockermouth, the Trout was flooded in 2009. These floods received a lot of publicity at the time, not least because of the damage to bridges. The Trout, delightfully located next to the River Derwent, inevitably suffered more than many, but the upside is that it's now all looking so clean and bright, following the repair works!


White Moss House, Grasmere It appears that William Wordsworth never bought a house for himself and his wife. He did, however, buy this house - White Moss House - for his son, Willy, in 1827 and it stayed in the Wordsworth family for over 100 years. Because it is now run as a bed-and-breakfast, you can stay here yourself, though you may need to book early, as there are only five bedrooms. If you


prefer self-catering, the owners also have a holiday cottage.


For more information ring 015394 35295 or visit www.whitemoss.com - for the cottage see www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p92349


The cheery staff, good ambience, splendid bedroom and enjoyable breakfast all made for a pleasant stay and the location, almost next to Wordsworth House, makes it ideal for people visiting his birthplace.


For more information ring 01900 823591 or visit www.trouthotel.co.uk


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