Beatrix Potter

Although born in London in 1866, she married and moved to Cumbria, where she created her famous characters.

She spent her last few decades extending her farm property and raising Herdwick sheep before her death in 1943, aged 77. Potter created around 20 well-loved children's tales involving a host of animal characters including Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle. She was born in 1866 in South Kensington, London, and she initially published her first book Peter Rabbit herself before finding a publisher.
In 2005 there was concern as the National Trust considered splitting up her former hill farm.

The Peter Rabbit books' author left High Yewdale, in Coniston, to the National Trust in 1943, when she died and it is a fully working farm.

But to ensure its economic future, the Trust is putting it up for let as an agricultural business or dwelling.

Protestors claim the move will threaten the tradition of farming it the area.

The Trust is also planning to divide High Yewdale's land between three neighbouring farms. Beatrix Potter is among the most searched terms on the internet, especially for US and Japanese tourists and the film made in 2006 raised awareness of the illustrator to mew heights.
Contact: Beatrix Potter Gallery, Tel: 015394 36355 & Hill Top House Tel: 015394 36269