Hill Top, Cumbria
![]() The porch of Hill Top | |
Established | 1946 |
---|---|
Location | Near Sawrey,Hawkshead,Cumbria,England |
Coordinates | 54°21′06″N2°58′14″W/ 54.3517°N 2.970453°W |
Type | Writer's house museum |
Owner | National Trust |
Public transit access | Bus/Ferry fromWindermere![]() |
Website | www |
Listed Building– Grade II* | |
Designated | 25 March 1970 |
Reference no. | 1087304 |
Hill Topis a 17th-century house inNear SawreynearHawkshead,in the EnglishcountyofCumbria.It is an example of Lakelandvernacular architecturewith random stone walls and slate roof.[1]The house was once the home of children's author and illustratorBeatrix Potterwho left it to theNational Trust.It is aGrade II* listed building.[2][3]It is open to the public as awriter's house museum,shown as Beatrix Potter herself would have known it.
The Hill Top garden is of interest, being maintained in a style in keeping with Potter's illustrations.
Background
[edit]Hill Top once belonged to Beatrix Potter, the children's author and illustrator known for a series of small format books, especially the characterPeter Rabbit.Potter bought the house and its 34-acre (14 ha) working farm in 1905 as her home away from London and her artistic retreat. She left the house to theNational Trustupon her death in 1943. The house, farm and nearby villages feature in Potter's books,The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan,The Tale of Tom Kitten,The Tale of Jemima Puddle-DuckandThe Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding.
The farm was managed by John Cannon. The wing on the left was built by Potter for Cannon and his family in 1906.The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duckwas dedicated to his children, Ralph and Betsy, who appear in the illustrations, as does their mother.
Points of interest
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Potterhome.jpg/220px-Potterhome.jpg)
Entrance hall
[edit]The entrance hall or kitchen, retains its original stone-flagged floor. The range seen in many of her illustrations was removed but replaced with an identical one in 1983. The wallpaper was reproduced in 1987 from that hung by Potter in 1906 and covers the walls and ceiling. The longcase clock dated ca. 1785, theChippendale-style chairs, theGeorgian-style dresser, a 17th-century oak press cupboard and other furnishings are depicted in some of Potter's illustrations.[4]The remains of the historic spiral staircase can be seen in the cupboard to the right of the fireplace.
Parlour
[edit]Theparlouris distinguished by anAdam stylechimneypiece installed by Potter. Furniture of the early 19th century dominates the room and 18th century English and Chinese porcelains are displayed in a hanging wall cupboard. Potter's1902 coronationteapot displayed in the cupboard was Ribby's inThe Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan.[5]
Staircase and landing
[edit]The staircase and landing are familiar to the readers of Potter's books. The rail and banisters are probably 18th century. The walnutlongcase clockwas made by Schofield's ofRochdale.Other works of art decorate the area. The carpets were woven to match those inThe Tale of Samuel Whiskers.[6]
The new room
[edit]Called the new room as it was an extension added by Beatrix at the same time as she built the adjoining house. Beatrix referred to it as the library. It contains five large paintings by her brother Walter Bertram Potter. The single window looks out over the village ofNear Sawrey,a scene Beatrix drew forThe Tale of Samuel Whiskers.
The sitting room
[edit]Originally a farmhouse bedroom, Beatrix used this upstairs space to entertain. The room includes a box piano byMuzio Clementi and Co.
The treasure room
[edit]The smallest room in the house shows off the original oak floors. One floorboard has been cut shorter than the others, which possibly inspired the events inThe Tale of Samuel Whiskers.Notable items in the room include the dolls house which contains the ham depicted inThe Tale of Two Bad Miceand a display cabinet featuring miniature bronzes of Beatrix's characters.
Bedroom
[edit]The only bedroom in the house contains an ornatefour-poster beddating from the mid-1600s. Beatrix's husband William Heelis carved their initials in the fireplace surround.
Layout of the house
[edit]The house contains three rooms downstairs, the entrance hall, parlour andscullery.There are four rooms upstairs; the sitting room, treasure room, bedroom and new room. All of these rooms can be entered by visitors. There are additional rooms not on the visitor route, including a cellar, a landing cupboard and a washroom, which did not contain plumbing, but was simply a space to wash using a bowl of water.
Garden
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Tale_of_tom_kitten.jpg/220px-Tale_of_tom_kitten.jpg)
The Tale of Tom Kittenfeatures the Hill Top garden.[7]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Barrow_and_Peas_-_geograph.org.uk_-_510275.jpg/220px-Barrow_and_Peas_-_geograph.org.uk_-_510275.jpg)
There is avegetable garden,but Mr McGregor's vegetables inThe Tale of Peter Rabbitwere painted at a garden calledLingholmas Potter had not yet acquired Hill Top.
Replicas
[edit]Hill Top is a frequent destination of Japanese visitors to the UK.[8] In 2007 a replica of Hill Top was built in a children's zoo near the grounds ofDaito Bunka UniversityinTokyo,Japan.[9]
Related properties
[edit]The National Trust also displays material related to Beatrix Potter at theBeatrix Potter Galleryat Hawkshead.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Footnotes
- ^Taylor 1989, p. 22
- ^"Hill Top, Claife".Retrieved4 December2014.
- ^Historic England."Hill Top (1087304)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved4 December2014.
- ^Taylor 1989, pp. 22–3
- ^Taylor 1989, p. 25
- ^Taylor 1989, p. 26
- ^"Discover the garden at Hill Top".
- ^"Peter Rabbit: Why the Japanese love Beatrix Potter".Retrieved30 November2021.
- ^"How Beatrix Potter opens doors in Japan".Insider Media.Retrieved3 February2011.
- ^"Hawkshead".nationaltrustcollections.org.uk.National Trust Collections.Retrieved6 August2023.
- Works cited
- Taylor, Judy (1989).Beatrix Potter and Hill Top.The National Trust.ISBN1-84359-065-4.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Houses completed in the 17th century
- Beatrix Potter
- Biographical museums in Cumbria
- Historic house museums in Cumbria
- Country houses in Cumbria
- Farms in Cumbria
- Gardens in Cumbria
- Museums in Cumbria
- National Trust properties in the Lake District
- Grade II* listed houses in Cumbria
- Literary museums in England
- Women's museums in the United Kingdom