Helen Beatrix Potter (1866 – 1943)
Beatrix Potter: An English writer, illustrator, botanist and conservationist, best known for her range of illustrated children's Including 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'.
Born in London, Beatrix became a keen conservationist following family holidays to Scotland and the Lake District. In 1905, she bought her first Lakeland farm, Hill Top in Near Sawrey with the profits from her books. Upon death, she left 4,000 acres of land and 14 farms to the National Trust.
A bronze sculpture of Beatrix Potter by Lancaster sculptor, Alan Ward on temporary display at Lancaster Castle in Lancashire.
Hill Top, Near Sawrey in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top Farm in 1905 and travelled here for holidays from her London home. Hill Top features in several books including ‘The Tale of Samuel Whiskers’. With the help of a farm manager, Beatrix started to breed herdwick sheep. In 1913, at the age of 47 Beatrix married William Heelis and moved to nearby Castle Cottage.
Hill Top, Near Sawrey in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top Farm in 1905 and travelled here for holidays from her London home. Hill Top features in several books including ‘The Tale of Samuel Whiskers’. With the help of a farm manager, Beatrix started to breed herdwick sheep. In 1913, at the age of 47 Beatrix married William Heelis and moved to nearby Castle Cottage.
Castle Cottage, Near Sawrey in the Lake District, Cumbria.
The home of Beatrix Potter
A private residence.
Peter Rabbit bus stop, Hill Top signpost and Castle Cottage, Near Sawrey in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Beatrix Potter bought Castle Farm in 1905. Castle Cottage was her primary home from 1913 when she was married to William Heelis until her death at the age of 77 in 1943.
A private residence.
This 17th century building in Hawkshead was the solicitor's office of William Heelis, husband of Beatrix Potter. Perhaps this is where she met William when she bought Hill Top in 1905.
The building was given to the National Trust by Beatrix Potter.
Brockhole, the Lake District National Park Visitor Centre near Windermere, Cumbria: The house was built by wealthy Manchester silk merchant, William Henry Aldolphus Gaddum in 1895 to a design by Dan Gibson. Local landscape gardener Thomas Mawson laid out the gardens and the estate.
A view over Esthwaite Water towards the village of Near Sawrey in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria.
Beatrix Potter lived in Near Sawrey, and the countryside around the village was the inspiration for many of her books. Esthwaite Water was her favourite lake and may have been the inspiration for 'Jeremy Fisher'.
The southern end of Esthwaite Water in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria.
Esthwaite Water was the favourite lake of Beatrix Potter and may have been the inspiration for 'Jeremy Fisher'.
Yew Tree Farm near Coniston in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria.
This late 17th / early 18th century farmhouse and barn with spinning gallery was once owned by Beatrix Potter and starred as her Hill Top home in the 2006 film 'Miss Potter' starring Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor.
The award winning 'Heritage Meats' is based at the farm, selling their own herdwick and belted galloway meat.
Wray Castle at Low Ray on the western shore of Windermere in the Lake District, Cumbria.
This Gothic style house was built in 1840 for a retired surgeon, James Dawson. After Dawson's death in 1875 the estate was inherited by his fifteen year old nephew, Edward Preston Rawnsley. In 1877 Edward's cousin, Hardwicke Rawnsley, who was to become one of the founder members of the National Trust, took up the appointment of vicar of the neighbouring Wray Church.
In 1882, a sixteen year old Beatrix Potter stayed at Wray Castle on a family holiday to the Lake District. There she met Hardwick Rawnsley, who became her mentor and good friend.
Aerial view of Moss Eccles Tarn and Claife Heights, Near Sawrey in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Troutbeck Park Farm, Troutbeck in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria.
The farm was bought by Beatrix Potter in 1923. In 1926 she decided to run the farm herself with the help of the shepherd, George Walker, brother-in-law of Tom Storey who ran her Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey. Beatrix built the neighbouring detatched house for the shepherd to live in.
The farm and its large herdwick flock were left to the National Trust upon her death in 1943.
Tower Bank Arms in June 2008 at Near Sawrey in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria.
This 17th century inn sits next to Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter. The inn features in ‘The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck’.
Water lilies on Moss Eccles Tarn, Near Sawrey in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Moss Eccles Tarn was a favourite haunt of Beatrix Potter. She bought the tarn in 1913, stocked it with brown trout and planted the water lilies. She and her husband spent many hours in a rowing boat here. The tarn provides a setting for the ‘Tale of Jeremy Fisher’. Beatrix left the tarn to the National Trust upon her death.