Famous Cumbrians

Beatrix was born in London in 1866. Back in the city after her holidays, her sketches and paintings of animals in Cumbria were turned into greetings cards for her friends and relatives.

Tommy Brock

The Tale of Peter Rabbit started life as a story in a letter to a young relative - it was published as a children's book in 1902.

In 1903, Beatrix used money from the book's success to buy Hill Top Farm near Sawrey. Later - in 1909 - she bought Castle Farm nearby. After her marriage in 1913, Beatrix began life as a Cumbrian farmer.

Mrs Tiggywinkle

She became skilled in breeding Herdwick sheep, winning shows with her animals and she was even elected the president of the Herdwick Breeders' Association - the first woman to hold that position.

Beatrix bequeathed her estate - 4000 acres of farmland plus 14 farms - to the National Trust. After she died, the property and countryside formed one of the first donations to the Trust.

Beatrix Potter bought the farm in 1903 with money from the sale of her first books. Hill Top was her first property in Cumbria. She didn't live in it - preferring to live in London with her parents until she married.

Pigland Bland and Alexander.

However, Beatrix spent several months a year at the farm during which she wrote many more books. Several well known characters 'lived' at Hill Top - Tom Kitten and Samuel Whiskers.

Hill Top Farm

In 1909, she moved to the larger Castle Farm nearby. She kept both farms working and slowly built up her estate to include 14 farms and 4000 acres.

Although she never lived there full-time, Beatrix filled the cottage at Hill Top Farm with furniture and ornaments.

Hill Top Farm

After her death in 1943, Beatrix Potter's first farm was preserved exactly as she left it.

The National Trust maintain the cottage and gardens as well as taking care of her furniture and china.

Hill Top receives hundreds of visitors every day but a control system makes sure it's never crowded. The best times to visit are outside the main tourist season (Easter to October) or on week days instead of weekends.

Contact details:

Hill Top Farm
Sawrey
Ambleside
Cumbria
LA22 0LF
Tel: 015394 36269