Delightful day for all who dwell at historic fair

Dove Cottage & The Wordsworth Museum will be recreating a Grasmere event of yesteryear when it stages its September Fair.
Dove CottageDove Cottage
Dove Cottage

In Wordsworth’s day, the September Fair was a rustic occasion, which he references in The Prelude and describes as a ‘Delightful day … for all who dwell in this secluded glen.’

Dorothy Wordsworth also mentions the 1800 Fair in her journal and says, ‘I believe there were many cakes & much beer sold.’ She also mentions much ‘dancing and merriment’. The 2014 version – on September 6 – will seek to capture the spirit of that 1800 occasion and will feature food, music, poetry, a wide range of performers, craft stalls and demonstrations, letter writing activities, face-painting, a Live History group and fun but educational things to do.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The cakes on sale will follow recipes from the Wordsworth family. Other dishes will be prepared by groups from across Cumbria and will be inspired by Dorothy Wordsworth’s recipes and journals.

Performers taking centre stage will include the Grasmere Players, Jules Ward and CML Young Musicians. Visitors to Dove Cottage site can sample this vibrant entertainment and activity-packed event free of charge.

Should visitors want to combine a visit to the September Fair with Dove Cottage and The Wordsworth Museum, admission is £7.75 for an adult and £4.50 for a child.

This includes a tour of Dove Cottage and a visit to The Wordsworth Museum, where the Wordsworth and Basho: Walking Poets exhibition is currently on show. The September Fair will start at 10am and end at 4pm.

Related topics: