Hill Top Farm
| Hill Top Farm | |
|
National Trust | |
|---|---|
 The porch of Hill Top | |
| Grid reference: | SD369956 |
| Location: | 54°21’8"N, 2°58’16"W |
| Information | |
| Website: | Hill Top |
Hill Top is a 17th-century farmhouse in Near Sawrey near Hawkshead, in the Furness Fells of Lancashire. It is an example of Lakeland vernacular architecture with random stone walls and slate roof.[1] The house was once the home of children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, who left it to the National Trust in her will.
The house today remains in the care of the National Trust, and is a Grade II* listed building.[2][3] It is open to the public as a writer's house museum, shown as Beatrix Potter herself would have known it.
Background
Hill Top had been a working farm for centuries. In July 1906, Beatrix Potter, the children's author and illustrator known for the series of small format Peter Rabbit books, bought the house and its 34-acre farm as her home away from London and her artistic retreat. At her death, she left the house to the National Trust, in which she had been an early influence under her married name, Beatrix Heelis. (The National Trust's modern headquarters building in Swindon is named "Heelis" after her.)
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.
In Potter's day 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.
Points of interest
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.[4]
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-Pan.[5]
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.[6]
Replicas
In 2007 a replica of Hill Top was built in a children's zoo near the grounds of Daito Bunka University in Tokyo, Japan.[7]
Related properties
The National Trust also displays material related to Beatrix Potter at the Beatrix Potter Gallery at Hawkshead.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Hill Top Farm) |
- Hill Top - The National Trust
References
- ↑ Taylor 1989, p. 22
- ↑ Hill Top, Claife - British Listed Buildings
- ↑ National Heritage List 1087304: Hilltop Farmhouse
- ↑ Taylor 1989, pp. 22–3
- ↑ Taylor 1989, p. 25
- ↑ Taylor 1989, p. 26
- ↑ "How Beatrix Potter opens doors in Japan". Insider Media. http://www.insidermedia.com/productsandservices/archive/nwbi/2006-06/potter/. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- Taylor, Judy (1989). Beatrix Potter and Hill Top. The National Trust. ISBN 1-84359-065-4.