Beatrix Potter country: a legacy in Lakeland and beyond
Background to the frontispiece for The Tale of Pigling Bland by Beatrix Potter, 1909, watercolour. Linder Collection: LC 28/B/2, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
‘My brother and I were born in London because my father was a lawyer there. But our descent, our interests and our joy was in the North Country.’ Beatrix Potter spent many family holidays in the Lake District exploring and sketching the wildlife and changing nuances of the British countryside. In 1905 she purchased Hill Top farm in the Cumbria village of Near Sawrey, aided by the proceeds from her first ‘little books’.
Potter went on to acquire other farms and land in the area and in 1913 she married the Hawkshead solicitor William Heelis. She spent ever less time in London and soon farming became her chief interest and occupation instead of stories and illustration. After her death in 1943, the Heelis Bequest gave over 4300 acres to the National Trust’s holdings in the Lake District. Fields, farms, cottages, houses and woodland were given on the condition that they would be preserved and the farms kept as working farms.
The legacy of Beatrix Potter has also stretched further afield than the Lake District. Many houses and estates at which Potter stayed during her lifetime have been conserved partly because of their connection to her. Many are open to the public today but some still pass silently between private owners.
Beatrix Potter country: a legacy in Lakeland and beyond
13 December 2011 – 10 June 2012
Gallery 102
Free admission
Beatrix Potter displays are generously supported by the Enid Linder Foundation, the Linder Trust and Frederick Warne & Co.
Beatrix Potter, 'Hill Top on a Winter Night'
Beatrix Potter, 'Hill Top on a Winter Night', late 19th or early 20th century, watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 445. © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Hill Top, Sawrey'
Beatrix Potter, 'Hill Top, Sawrey', 1896-1905, sepia ink drawing. Linder Collection: LC 15/A/1. © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Tabitha Twitchit searches for Thomas'
Beatrix Potter, 'Tabitha Twitchit searches for Thomas', 1908, watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 787, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Tabitha Twitchit'
Beatrix Potter, 'Tabitha Twitchit', 1908, pencil and pen and ink on paper. Linder Collection: LC 26/B/2, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Cousin Ribby in the Hill Top front room ('What is all that soot in the fender?')'
Beatrix Potter, 'Cousin Ribby in the Hill Top front room ('What is all that soot in the fender?')', preparatory sketch for the illustration on page 22 of The Tale of Samuel Whiskers, 1908, pencil and pen-and-ink. Linder Bequest: LB 779, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Pigling Bland and Alexander at the crossroads'
Beatrix Potter, 'Pigling Bland and Alexander at the crossroads', 1913, sepia ink and watercolour. Linder Collection: LC 28/B/1, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, setting for 'The Veal and Ham Pie'
Beatrix Potter, setting for 'The Veal and Ham Pie', undated, pencil, pen-and-ink and watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 751, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, preparatory sketch for book illustration for 'The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin'
Beatrix Potter, preparatory sketch for book illustration for 'The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin', early 20th century, sepia ink and watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 918, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Esthwaite Water seen from Lakefield'
Beatrix Potter, 'Esthwaite Water seen from Lakefield', about 1900, watercolour. Linder Collection: LC 3/A/3, © F.Warne & Co., 2011
Beatrix Potter, 'Water Lilies'
Beatrix Potter, 'Water Lilies', late 19th to early 20th century. Linder Bequest: LB 275, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Wray Castle library'
Beatrix Potter, 'Wray Castle library', late 19th or early 20th century, watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 384, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, sketch of a garden at Gwaynynog, Wales
Beatrix Potter, sketch of a garden at Gwaynynog, Wales, probably between 30 June 1909 and 4 July 1909, pencil and watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 935, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'The rabbits' potting shed'
Beatrix Potter, 'The rabbits' potting shed', 1891, wash and pen and ink. Linder Bequest: LB 1001, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Bolton Gardens at dusk'
Beatrix Potter, 'Bolton Gardens at dusk', late 19th or early 20th century, wash and pencil. Linder Bequest: LB 431, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Melford Hall'
Beatrix Potter, 'Melford Hall', undated, watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 441, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'White mouse in a four-poster bed'
Beatrix Potter, 'White mouse in a four-poster bed', 1901, pen-and-ink and watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 1024, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, dinner place cards depicting Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck
Beatrix Potter, dinner place cards depicting Peter Rabbit (left) and Jemima Puddle-Duck (right), Pen-and-ink and watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 2141a & LB 2141b, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Photograph of Wray Castle with Beatrix Potter's family and dog
Photograph of Wray Castle with Beatrix Potter's family and dog, 1882. Linder Bequest: LB 2054, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Jeremy Fisher receiving friends outside his house'
Beatrix Potter, 'Jeremy Fisher receiving friends outside his house', 1906, pencil and pen-and-ink with touches of watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 849, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, frog sketches from 'A frog he would a-fishing go'
Beatrix Potter, frog sketches from 'A frog he would a-fishing go', 1894, pencil and pen-and-ink. Linder Bequest: LB 1032, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Garden in Sawrey'
Beatrix Potter, 'Garden in Sawrey', 1905, pen-and-ink and watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 750, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Peter and Benjamin at Hill Top'
Beatrix Potter, 'Peter and Benjamin at Hill Top', illustration for Christmas card, 1936. Linder Bequest: LB 1808, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 1 (right), 16 (left)
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 1 (right), 16 (left). Linder Bequest: LB 1468, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 2 (left), 3 (right)
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 2 (left), 3 (right). Linder Bequest: LB 1468, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 4 (left), 5 (right)
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 4 (left), 5 (right). Linder Bequest: LB 1468, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 6 (left), 7 (right)
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 6 (left), 7 (right). Linder Bequest: LB 1468, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 8 (left), 9 (right)
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 8 (left), 9 (right). Linder Bequest: LB 1468, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 10 (left), 11 (right)
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 10 (left), 11 (right). Linder Bequest: LB 1468, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 12 (left), 13 (right)
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 12 (left), 13 (right). Linder Bequest: LB 1468, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 14 (left), 15 (right)
Picture letter from Beatrix Potter to Norah Moore, 25th September 1901, pages 14 (left), 15 (right). Linder Bequest: LB 1468, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, 'Peter Rabbit by the fire at Lingholm'
Beatrix Potter, 'Peter Rabbit by the fire at Lingholm', 1899, watercolour. Linder Collection: LC 18/A/3, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
Beatrix Potter, sketches of a sheep's head
Beatrix Potter, sketches of a sheep's head, undated, pencil and watercolour. Linder Bequest: LB 384, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2012
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