Join us at Rydal Hall in the heart of the Lake District, 14–19 February 2022, for a week of lectures and seminars exploring the theme of ‘Wordsworth and Storytelling’. As always, there will be cakes, challenging minds, congenial company . . . and the incomparable landscape.

We will investigate how the poet told stories of himself and of historical and imaginary characters through the lenses of literary style, history, biography, and influence. Texts to be studied encompass Lyrical Ballads, Peter Bell, The Excursion, The White Doe of Rylstone, The Prelude, and more.

The celebrated poet Sean O’Brien will be giving a reading of his poems in response to Wordsworth’s stories.

Our lecturers are:

Patty O’Boyle 

David Chandler

Stephen Gill

Heather Glen

Jake Phipps

Cecilia Powell

Christopher Simons

John Williams

There will be a visit to the new Wordsworth Museum, and a guided tour of Grasmere Village, plus excursions to: Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts house overlooking Windermere; Lowther Castle and Gardens; the Windermere Jetty Museum (and boat trip if the weather is kind).

Questions related to transport, accommodation, registration, payments, and other administrative matters should be addressed to the administrators, Irm Hollenbach and Kate Marriott, at: wordsworthwinterschool@gmail.com and by post:

Kate Marriott, 7d St John’s Terrace, Ambleside Road, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4DP

Registration Fee:

 £220.00 (or £198 for members and friends)

Resident Attendance:

Details on pricing to come

Non-Resident Attendance:

All non-residential attendance must be pre-booked.

Details on pricing to come

Locals Session Rates

£ per person (pricing details to come)

Non Participant Rates

£ for a 5 day non-participant (pricing details to come)

Student Attendance

Some residential places are reserved for bona fide unwaged students  
(see also our Bursaries page).

Times for our transfer buses from and to Oxenholme railway station will be confirmed in December