Home > Westmorland > Grasmere > Dove & Olive Bough Dove & Olive Bough
Date of photo: 1997	Photo © Jo Turner
The Dove & Olive Bough was situated on Town End. Grade-I listed former home of poet William Wordsworth. Former inn 'Dove and Olive Bough' reportedly part built late 17th century and part 18th century; it was included in a list of public houses in Westmoreland in 1617, closing in 1793. It is mentioned as a former inn in Wordsworth’s poem ‘The Waggoner’ written in 1806. It was Wordsworth's first family home from 1799 to 1808 initially with his sister Dorothy and in 1802 his wife Mary. In 1890 the house was acquired by the newly formed Dove Cottage Trust (now the Wordsworth Trust) and opened the following year. Kelly’s 1910-1914 directories has the entry ‘Wordsworth Museum, Dive cottage, Benjamin R. Johnston M.D. sec’ but it is not listed in 1906 or before. In 1900 a museum opened on the upper floor of the outbuilding and a new boiler house was built adjoining it in 1928. Refurbishment took place 1976-79 then in August 2020 the BBC reported it had reopened after being ‘closed since last year’ following extensive restoration.
Source: Steve Turner
Listed building details:
Wordsworth's home - a tremendous tourist attraction. 2 small blocks at right angles to each other, with a porch in the angle. North eastern part probably late C17, the north western block C18. 2 storeys. Road-facing front has 2 windows on each floor with small leaded diamond panes. Interior has C17 staircase and C18 panelling. Open to the public.
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