Beatrix Potter has been a recurring theme at Wray Castle recently and over the next few weeks, renewing a relationship that started when Beatrix's family rented the castle for a summer holiday when she was a girl.
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| The Potters at Wray Castle, photo courtesy of V&A and Frederick Warne |
Recently we had Simon a specialist conservator in to the castle to work on Beatrix's collection of insects, butterflies etc contained in her collection cabinet, on loan from the Beatrix Potter Society. The contents of Beatrix Potters Collections Cabinet had to undergo some essential repairs (in some cases re-uniting heads, torsos, wings and legs!). Each of the sixteen drawers contains a mini themed collection eg fragile moths, butterflies, beetles,
birds eggs, shells and geological specimens - all collected by Beatrix
and her brother Bertram; collecting in this way was a favourite hobby for Victorians interested in the natural world. Unfortunately we're not able to put the cabinet on view yet but hope to do so next year.
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| Simon at work, clearly a patient man! |
Each Monday afternoon until the end of October, our house team are on hand in the castle to demonstrate to the visitors aspects of our conservation work. For September they're focusing on Beatrix Potter heirlooms ie artefacts and objects owned by Beatrix and in our collection but which don't normally form a part of what is on display. If you are interested in Beatrix or in our conservation work do come along and see the team at work as they carry out the regular regime of caring for our objects.
At the end of September and into October we'll be joined by members of the Beatrix Potter Society who will be doing readings from Beatrix's tales and also talking about her life and work. The members are all experts in Beatrix Potter and will be a great source of information, so do come with your questions.
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| Members of the Beatrix Potter Society at a reading and questions event |
Finally for the younger visitors more interested in Peter Rabbit than Beatrix Potter they can visit the Peter Rabbit playroom where they can dress up in that famous blue jacket and watch the latest version of Peter and his friends, an animated series showing on CBeebies. The new playroom is a collaboration between the National Trust, CBeebies, and the show’s creators, Silvergate Media.
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| Great fun for young fans of Peter. |
The Beatrix Potter Society members are at the castle on Sept 29 at 3.30pm and 30 Sept at 2.00pm and Oct 1,2 , and 3 also at 2.00pm. For more information on the
Beatrix Potter Society.
Keep up with our Wray Castle events on our
Wray Castle Events page.
Post by Linda
Photos via V&A; from Wray Castle team and from the BP Soc
