Grasmere Builds A Wall.
Unlike other places in the World which are talking about building a wall to keep people out, Grasmere has a new wall to welcome visitors.
The entrance to the village at Stock Lane has undergone many reincarnations in the time I have been here so it was interesting to go and have a look at the latest. First a few photos of how it has looked. Note how the Poets well has moved.
Junction Stock Lane Grasmere
A591 Junction Grasmere
We now have a rather poetic entrance to the village, with the building of a couple of slate walls inscribed with poetry by William Wordsworth.
Home at Grasmere
There are also seats on either side of the road, and a much needed litter bin.
New seating Grasmere
Crossing the road to Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Trust should be easier for pedestrians due to the new road layout.
A591 B5287 Junction Grasmere
Poetry Wall Grasmere
Since I took the photographs earth has been filled in behind the walls so hopefully we can look forward to some floral displays.
Below is a link to the original Cumbria County Council thinking. So far no sign has been put up pointing into Grasmere Village. As far as traffic and pedestrians go the season is just starting so time will tell how well the new arrangement works.
http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/544/3245/4261312523.pdf
Dove Cottage in the evening
Recently as part of the Museums at Night initiative Dove Cottage Grasmere, held three evenings for a limited amount of people to experience the cottage at night as it had been when it was an inn called the Dove and Olive Bough.
Dove Cottage Grasmere
A welcome awaited with the sounds of the fiddle floating through the air.
Dove Cottage welcome
The history of the house is referred to in William’s 1806 poem The Waggoner. “Where once the Dove and Olive bough offered a greeting of good ale to all who entered Grasmere Vale”. And on this occasion real ale was also supplied. It was wonderful to wander around the garden, drink in hand, on a balmy summer evening.
Dove Cottage Garden
The sun was just setting on the village, and visitors had made their way home.
Dove Cottage Evening
Walking further up the garden you come to a seat overlooking the rooftops.
Grasmere rooftops
The view would have been different in Wordsworth’s day of course as Dove Cottage was built on the old turnpike road, the view would have been much more open, the lake not obscured by the buildings on the “new” road that exists now.
It was getting chillier so we repaired inside for some real ale poetry and prose, with a few drinking songs thrown in for good measure.
End of Day Town End Grasmere
To quote “The Waggoner” again we had to “leave it with a jovial heart” as time waits for no man, and neither does the 555 bus which was speeding some of our party home. A good night had by all. Thanks to http://wordsworth.org.uk Why not have a look and see what events are on when you next visit Grasmere Village.
