Generall Historie of Plantes

Following on from Pete’s fascinating forays into the Latin naming of plants (originated by Linneaus) I have been doing some research on one of my favourite items in Hill Top – Gerards Herbal, more officially known as the Generall Historie of Plantes.

Gerard's Herbal with its specially made cabinet in the New Room at Hill Top

If you have visited Beatrix’s Hill Top you will have seen the Herbal in a glass case in the New Room at the back of the house. Many people glance at it but pass it by as the room contains some of Beatrix’s larger writing desks and the prominent oil paintings by her brother Bertram which are much quicker to catch your eye; however, I think the Herbal is one of the more wonderful pieces as it predates Beatrix by a significant margin. Containing over 1800 detailed illustrations it really is a delight and also a challenge trying to figure out the old English spellings and type.


The Prickly Indian Fig Tree - Ficus Indica

  The Herbal was first published in 1597 by the Queens printer John Norton, who initially commissioned a Dr. Priest, a member of the college of physicians, to translate Rembert Dodoen’s extremely popular herbal Pemptades (1583) from Latin to English. Priest died before the work was completed and the unfinished work was passed on to Gerard. However this is a source for some controversy! While Gerard claimed most of Priest’s work was lost, many accuse him of plagiarising a lot of the book. His edition reused many of the printers woodcuts from Dodoen’s book whilst Gerard rearranged and also extended it with his unique humour and anecdotes to 1480 pages in total, including folklore and the particular ‘Vertues’ of each species. Interestingly he mentions that Foxglove (Digitalis) is good for thinning the blood but doesn't mention that it could kill you!

Beatrix refers to the Herbal in her story The Fairy Caravan when Mary Ellen the cat is called upon to administer a herbal remedy to Paddy Pig, who is suffering the after effects of eating toadstool tartlets: “What says old Gerard in the big calfskin book?”


Posted by Katie Tiley, VE Assistant

The 'alternative' Beatrix Potter Collection!

So what to write for a blog this week? It's a funny time of year this for the 'houses'. We're closed but those of us still working are really busy, and whilst everyone's working on something - nothing seems quite complete. So as a January blog 'filler' I got to thinking about Beatrix Potter as an inspiration for creative people. 


The ballet by Frederick Ashton, staged periodically has been a great hit.

You may already know that her tales have inspired ballet, films, and of course TV animations but did you also know that she inspired an Autumn/Winter fashion collection for 2012?!

Last year Preen fashion house (favoured apparently by the likes of Kate Moss (model) and Kirsten Dunst (actress) said Beatrix Potter's botanical art was the source of inspiration for their Autumn/Winter collection.


Preen's collection inspired by Beatrix Potter!

The clothes were showcased at London Fashion Week and here's the proof of that statement in a video of the collection on the catwalk!

And to find out more about it here's a link to the article in Grazia magazine on-line (although of course we know that BP's first name is spelled with an 'x' not an 'ice' and she did get married...)

Fascinating to know that a century after her botanical work was created it's still being noticed and influencing today's creatives (not sure what Beatrix herself would make of it though!).


post by Linda