The petition of residents of the constituency of Penrith and Solway,
Declares that Wordsworth House and Garden, a Grade 1 listed national treasure, birthplace of poet William Wordsworth, is vital to our national heritage, education and local economy and its potential closure would be an incalculable loss, robbing future generations of a direct link to a pivotal era of English literature and a key contributor to Cumbrian tourism.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with the National Trust to keep Wordsworth House fully operational and open to visitors.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Markus Campbell-Savours, Official Report, 21 October 2025; Vol. 773, c. 935.]
[P003120]
Observations from the Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling (Baroness Twycross):
The Government recognise that Wordsworth House and Garden is a culturally significant and historically important site, bringing pride to communities within the Lake district. It is pivotal to the local visitor economy.
To preserve it for the nation and our national heritage, the site has been in the care of the National Trust since the 1930s. This was only possible thanks to the people of Cockermouth raising funds to buy the property and gift it to the National Trust, thus saving it from demolition.
We understand that, while Wordsworth House and Garden is a pay-for-entry property, it has faced financial challenges due to a 30% decrease in visitor numbers since the covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the National Trust has been considering how to continue providing access to the local community while creating a sustainable future.
The Government understand that as a result of consultation with local stakeholders, in 2026 the garden will be open for four days per week and there will also be guided tours of the house on two days per week.
We understand that the hon. Member for Penrith and Solway (Markus Campbell-Savours) has recently met the National Trust to discuss the future of the manor, his ideas for a future model of access and how the community could benefit from new models of management. Throughout 2026, the National Trust will continue to engage with the hon. Member, alongside volunteers, the community, local businesses and other stakeholders to gather suggestions on how they can share the Wordsworth story more widely and shape a new sustainable model for the property that delivers more public benefit. A new visitor model is likely to be in place from 2027 and the National Trust is dedicated to ensuring that more visitors are able to enjoy this site.