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The Village of Grasmere
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Grasmere is a village in central Cumbria, England.
It is also the name of the adjacent lake. Grasmere's position in the centre
of the English Lake District, as well as its connections with the Lake
Poets, has made it popular as a tourist destination. The poet William
Wordsworth, who lived in Grasmere for fourteen years, described it as "the
loveliest spot that man hath ever found".
Geography
The village is overlooked by the small rocky hill of Helm Crag, popularly
known as The Lion and the Lamb or the Old Lady at the Piano, depending on
which side you view it from. These names are derived from the shape of rock
formations on its summit.
A number of very good fell runs begin only minutes from the centre of the
village including ascents up Helm Crag or a longer route up to Fairfield.
The A591 connects Grasmere northwards over Dunmail Raise to the Vale of
Keswick and southwards to Ambleside.
Communal events
St Oswald's Church,decorated for the Rushbearing Day
Rushbearing
Grasmere's famous Rushbearing Ceremony has ancient origins. The present day
ceremony is an annual event which features a procession through the village
with bearings made from rushes and flowers. In this procession there are
also six Maids of Honour, a brass band, the church choir, and anyone who
wishes to join in by carrying their own decorated rushbearing.
Grasmere Sports
In August, Grasmere holds Grasmere Sports which have been running since
1852. This is the main event in Grasmere's calendar and one of the most
popular traditional events in the Lake District. Events at Grasmere Sports
include Cumberland Wrestling, fell running and hound trails (also known as
drag hunting).
Government
The former civil parish was for a time governed by an urban district council
before becoming part of the Lakes UDC in 1934. The village is now part of
Lakes parish. Grasmere has experienced population decline since the 1960s.
Famous (former) inhabitants
* William Wordsworth lived in Dove Cottage, in the hamlet of Townend, on the
outskirts of Grasmere, from 1799. He occasionally used to breakfast with Sir
Walter Scott at The Swan, a seventeenth century coaching inn that is still
in use in the village. In his poem "The Waggoner", Wordsworth asks "who does
not know the famous Swan", a line which is quoted on the Swan's pub sign to
this day. In 1808 he sold Dove Cottage to his friend Thomas de Quincey and
moved to a larger house in the village, Allan Bank, where he lived until he
moved to Rydal Mount, Ambleside in 1813. He is buried in the graveyard of
St. Oswald's Church, Grasmere, alongside his wife, Mary and their family.
His sister, Dorothy, is also buried alongside him.
* Samuel Taylor Coleridge also spent time at Dove Cottage and is said to
have muttered stanzas from his poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" whilst
walking across the fells to Grasmere.
* Sarah Nelson was the original maker of the famous Grasmere Gingerbread,
made to a secret recipe kept within the family to this day. The shop remains
in the former village school, adjacent to St Oswald's Church .
* Sting and his wife Trudie Styler have a house in the area.
* World-renowned story-teller Taffy Thomas has lived in the village for many
years having moved from his native Somerset.
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