Picture: National Trust/John Millar
The future of Cockermouth’s Wordsworth House is under review as the National Trust battles to save money.
The National Trust, which owns the childhood home of William Wordsworth, said rumours that the attraction was closing were not true and it was consulting with staff and volunteers about the building’s future.
It said the attraction was losing money.
It added visitor numbers at the house were ‘comparatively low’ and if it remained open as a pay to enter experience it would ‘continue to lose significant amounts of charitable money’.
A National Trust spokesman said: “Wordsworth House and Garden is not closing, and the community will play a key role in shaping its future.
“Our proposals aim to increase access, share the Wordsworth story more widely, and explore new uses for the space.
“These plans would see the garden, which is the most popular area, take on a more central role for visitors next year while we consult with the town council, chamber of commerce, businesses, residents and visitors to shape a sustainable, community-focused future for the house, with a new model in place by 2027.
“These are proposals only, and we’re consulting staff and volunteers to ensure they deliver the trust’s new strategy; to increase people’s access to culture and inspire them to care for it, as well as create a sustainable future for the organisation in a tough financial environment.”
The house was saved from demolition in 1937 by the people of Cockermouth, who raised cash to buy it from Cumberland Motor Services, which wanted to create a bus garage.
It was bought for £1,625 and handed over to the National Trust.
The National Trust, on its website, said this was so Wordsworth House could be “looked after for everyone, for ever”.
The Romantic poet was born in the Georgian townhouse in 1770, the second of five children and the Wordsworths lived there until 1783, when his father John died, five years after his mother Ann passed away in Penrith.
Edward and Gabrielle Ellis lived there with their family in the 1930s, but when they decided to divorce in 1937, they sold to Cumberland Motor Services.
It began a 45-day consultation with staff to find savings of £26 million. The organisation said it would lead to an estimated 6% reduction in jobs nationally.
It released a statement on July 11 about the proposals.
It said: “In the proposed changes we are prioritising the things people told us are important for the new strategy while protecting the things people value most about what we do now.
“This means reaching more people where they live with the nature and culture that helps everyone thrive, while continuing to provide the brilliant experiences visitors and members love at our places.
“We’ll still be caring for nature and heritage every day, as we have done for the last 130 years. The National Trust has existed for so long because it keeps adapting and planning for the long term.
“Although demand and support for our work are growing with yearly increases in visitors and donations; increasing costs are outstripping this growth.”
The National Trust looks after around 20 per cent of the Lake District National Park, including 100 mountains and 24 lakes and tarns, plus has tenant farmers.
Nationally, it is one of the largest landowners in the UK.
As well as Wordsworth House, it owns Wray Castle, Beatrix Potter’s home Hill Top. Acorn Bank, Allan Bank, Sizergh Castle, Fell Foot park, Townend, plus the Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water, Aira Force waterfall and Claife Viewing Station.
Cumbria Crack has asked the National Trust what its plans are for the rest of its Lake District properties and attractions.
