William Wordsworth's Home Purchased by Buddhist Charity

The former Somerset home of William Wordsworth has sold for around £2,000,000 to a Buddhist charity, reports Somerset County Gazette. "Built in the 18th Century out of rendered rubble stone," writes journalist Paul Jones, "the building is set in around 51 acres of gardens and deer park, with 13,500 square foot of interior space spread out over four floors, 17 bedrooms, and is complete with outbuildings, courtyard, and a walled garden." More: 

Now, Buddhist charity the Alfoxton Park Trust intends to sympathetically renovate the buildings and use them as a Buddhist retreat centre, focusing especially on a mixture of longer meditation retreats, arts events and land-based working retreats.

Charity trustee, Lokabandhu, said: "We are delighted to have been entrusted with the guardianship of this beautiful and historic building.

"We are very aware of its importance and place in Britain's literary heritage and fully intend to honour that going forwards.

"Once the building has been restored to at least something of its former glory, we'd love to welcome poets, pilgrims and lovers of nature - many of whom already pass by as they walk the Coleridge Way, which runs right past our back door."

As well as being home to Wordsworth - and the scene of the first reading of his friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' - the estate housed American troops during World War II, and Wellington House School in Kent relocated to the main house during the conflict.

Read more at Somerset County Gazette.