National Trust
Wordsworth

Discover the moving stories of Wordsworth House's residents throughout history

We’ve used the 1921 Census to uncover the stories of those who have called Wordsworth House home over the years. From physician Dr. James Graham and his patients to the Wordsworth family themselves, there are so many fascinating tales to discover.

What were your ancestors doing in 1921? Use our collection, including historical newspapers and exclusive census records, to trace back your family through the generations. When you build your family tree with Findmypast, you never know what you might discover.

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An extraordinary place

This striking townhouse in the Cumbrian market town of Cockermouth is perhaps best known for being the childhood home of poet William Wordsworth, who was born here in 1770. With its beautiful riverside garden, the house has been an important part of the local community for almost three centuries.

Who lived at Wordsworth House in 1921?

The 1921 Census of England & Wales provides us with a fascinating insight into the history of Wordsworth House. It indicates that physician James Graham (b. 1864) occupied the house in 1921, along with his wife Mary (b.1863).

The couple never had children. They employed a domestic servant, Annie Wordsworth, who lived in the house along with her children William and Gladys, aged four and six, at the time of the census. This live-in arrangement was somewhat unusual for the time and may reflect James and Mary's fondness for Annie.

Learn more with Step into the Past

Discover even more about this property with our immersive new podcast. Join Suzannah Lipscomb as she meets Charlotte, the 4 x great-granddaughter of poet and national treasure William Wordsworth. Exploring Wordsworth House and the surrounding streets in Cockermouth, they retrace the steps of Charlotte's ancestors and discover how two branches of this famous family had very different fates. As the story comes full circle, where will we find the Wordsworth relatives in the 1921 Census?

The Graham family

We know that James and Mary had been living in Cockermouth for at least 20 years, as we found their names in the 1901 and 1911 censuses. In 1911 they were at Wordsworth House with their two nieces, Maud Muriel Laughland and Eileen Winifred Laughland.

Both from Scotland originally, James and Mary had married in Glasgow in 1893. Interestingly, we can trace this in the newspapers, as the Glasgow Herald reported on their wedding. Mary (maiden name Crawford) had a religious background - her father Alexander was the minister for the Broomfield Established Church. James, on the other hand, studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and graduated in 1886.

Image credit: LWYang from USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Caring for the community

Records indicate that James Graham had a distinguished medical career, and provided many members of the local community with life-saving care over the years. Our newspaper collection indicates that he attended accident sites, rushing to all kinds of dramatic scenes from quarry explosions to motor accidents.

The West Cumberland Times reveals that he cared for John Kirkpatrick in 1896, 'an elderly man' who was injured when 'a large stone fell from the top of the quarry and struck his shoulder'.

So, who was this man that James Graham helped?

The tale of John Kirkpatrick

We delved into the records to learn more about the victim of this unfortunate accident. John Kirkpatrick was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland in 1833, but spent his adult life in Brigham. He was a limestone quarryman, eventually rising to the rank of foreman. We found him in censuses every year from 1891, but it wasn't until 1921 - aged 91 - that he was listed as retired. His wife Mary had died, leaving him a widower and living with family.

The accident he suffered in 1896, which severely cut and broke his shoulder, may explain his move from physical work into management, though we cannot know for sure. If there's one thing we can be sure of, it's that John was made of tough stuff, given that he worked in the quarry well into his 80s.

Image credit: Phil Davies / Brigham: Roadsign on High Brigham, via Wikimedia Commons.

Wordsworth House’s medical tradition

Interestingly, James Graham was the first in a long line of doctors who would live in Wordsworth House. After James' death from 'acute alcoholism' in 1924, physician and surgeon Dr. Selby moved in. When he died aged 62 in 1931, the house fell to one Dr. Ellis.

Having provided essential care for Cockermouth and the surrounding areas for 70 consecutive years, physicians like Dr. Graham, Dr. Selby, and Dr. Ellis are an important part of Wordsworth House's history.

An uncertain fate...

In December 1937, Wordsworth House was put up for sale, and the fate of this historic house seemed to be threatened. Organised into the Wordsworth National Memorial Committee, local literary admirers began fundraising to buy the property. Rallying supporters around the goal of preserving the historic house for future generations, the committee put out an emergency appeal.

The community gives back

As articles in the Hull Daily Mail and the Nottingham Journal reveal, the committee's plan was to borrow £1,500 in order to buy the house and repay the loan with donations from Wordsworth fans around the world. It was at this point that the National Trust became involved in the efforts to preserve Wordsworth House.

From a heritage site to a bus stop?

By August 1938, only £700 had been raised. With the committee powerless to block it, the house was bought by Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd. The company intended to demolish it to make room for a bus station.

'Wordsworth house for the nation'

Thankfully, the demolition plans never reached fruition. By September, the motor company agreed to re-sell the property to the preservation committee, which would entrust it into the care of the National Trust.

Newspaper articles like this one reveal the exciting process by which Wordsworth House was saved from destruction and instead 'given to the nation'.

A truly historic place

From the famous poet it is named after to a long line of local doctors, Wordsworth House has provided a home to more than a few important people over the years. As a fixture of the local community, it provides a fascinating insight into the lives of the past while remaining an important part of Cockermouth in the 21st century. Image credit: ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Want to find out more, or maybe plan your next visit? Head to the National Trust site to explore Wordsworth House in even more detail.

Visit the National Trust website

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