Hill Top, Cumbria
Encyclopedia
Hill Top is a 17th-century house in Near Sawrey
near Hawkshead
, in the English
county of Cumbria
. It is an example of Lakeland vernacular architecture with random stone walls and slate roof. The house was once the home of children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter
and is maintained as a museum by The National Trust.
books. Potter bought the house and its 34 acres (13.8 ha) working farm in July 1906 as her home away from London and her artistic retreat. She left the house to the National Trust
. As of 2011, the house is open to the public and remains in the same state as when Potter lived there. 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-Duck
and The 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-Duck was dedicated to his children, Ralph and Betsy, who appear in the illustrations, as does their mother.
.
in Tokyo
, Japan.
Near Sawrey
Near Sawrey and Far Sawrey are two neighbouring villages in the Furness area of Cumbria. They are located in the Lake District between the town of Hawkshead and the lake of Windermere...
near Hawkshead
Hawkshead
Hawkshead is a village and civil parish in the Cumbria, England. It is one of the main tourist honeypots in the South Lakeland area, and is dependent on the local tourist trade...
, in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. It is an example of Lakeland vernacular architecture with random stone walls and slate roof. The house was once the home of children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
and is maintained as a museum by The National Trust.
Background
Hill Top once belonged to Beatrix Potter, the children's author and illustrator known for the series of small format Peter RabbitPeter Rabbit
Peter Rabbit is a fictional anthropomorphic character in various children's stories by Beatrix Potter. He first appeared in The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902, and subsequently in five more books between 1904 and 1912. Spinoff merchandise includes dishes, wallpaper, and dolls...
books. Potter bought the house and its 34 acres (13.8 ha) working farm in July 1906 as her home away from London and her artistic retreat. She left the house to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. As of 2011, the house is open to the public and remains in the same state as when Potter lived there. The house, farm, and nearby villages feature in Potter's books, The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan
The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan
The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and released by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1905. It tells of a cat called Ribby and a tea party she holds for a dog called Duchess...
, The Tale of Tom Kitten
The Tale of Tom Kitten
The Tale of Tom Kitten is a children's book, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was released by Frederick Warne & Co. in September 1907. The tale is about manners and how children react to them. Tabitha Twitchit, a cat, invites friends for tea...
, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in July 1908. Potter composed the book at Hill Top, a working farm in the Lake District she bought in 1905...
and The 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-Duck was dedicated to his children, Ralph and Betsy, who appear in the illustrations, as does their mother.
Entrance hall
The entrance hall 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, the Chippendale-style chairs, the Georgian-style dresser, a 17th century oak press cupboard and other furnishings are depicted in some of Potter's illustrations.Parlour
The parlour is distinguished by an Adam-style chimneypiece 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's 1902 coronation teapot displayed in the cupboard was Ribby's in The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-PanThe Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan
The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and released by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1905. It tells of a cat called Ribby and a tea party she holds for a dog called Duchess...
.
Staircase and landing
The staircase and landing are familiar to the readers of Potter's books. The rail and banisters are probably 18th-century. The walnut longcase clock was made by Schofield's of Rochdale. Other works of art decorate the area. The carpets were woven to match those in The Tale of Samuel Whiskers.Replicas
In 2007 a replica of Hill Top was built in a children's zoo near the grounds of Daito Bunka UniversityDaito Bunka University
is a medium-sized four-year university with two campuses: one at Itabashi in Tokyo, and the other at Higashi Matsuyama in Saitama, Japan. The sports program is strong in rugby and marathon running, with the Ekiden team coming 4th in the prestigious January 2009 New Year Hakone Ekiden.Daito Bunka...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan.