Show Beatrix some love on Valentine's Day!

Someone once told me that the older you get the faster the time goes and I'm beginning to think that this is true. 

The time since my last post and our wintery closed months that followed seem to have passed with a super speedy blur – and I'm sure that I'm not the only one who's feeling this way. I mean it's February already!

THIS is February!

Our Hill Top has been looking a bit odd these past couple of months, the objects have been safely packed away, furniture covered and things have generally been out of place as we carried out the deep clean.

At the time of penning this post I'm pleased to say that it's looking much, much better inside the house and over the last couple of weeks a lot of things are being slowly returned to their rightful homes. It's like the house is coming back to life again and before we know it Hill Top will be open to the public once again.

With so much going on recently I think that the theme of this post is really a little update on what I've been getting up to.

I wish I could say that I've played a big part in putting things back out at Hill Top but I really can't take credit for any of it.

This year I was lucky enough to be allocated a place on the annual Housekeeping Study Days course. This year it was held down in Surrey at Polesden Lacey.

I am sure you'll agree that it's quite a contrast to our little Hill Top! It is an amazing property with a huge and beautiful collection, opulent surroundings and it's share of interesting past residents . It was wonderful to experience a totally different property.

It was a fairly decent journey but it was so so worth it! Through the course you get a good grounding in every aspect of preventative conservation and all the ins and outs of what we as house staff need to know to care for a collection of a variety of different objects and materials properly.

I really did enjoy it and have come back to the Lakes full of enthusiasm. It was a residential course, which means you stay over in a hotel as the course is taught over a number of days. This course was 3 nights and 4 days and as well as a whole lot of great learning it was fantastic to be able to meet and chat to others who are in similar roles as me from all across the country. To be honest, looking back I can't believe I was ever nervous about going!

Some other things I've been up to include measuring the plates at Hill Top so we can buy some new stands for them, this should improve the support they have and ensure they last for decades to come.

Not up to 'stand' ard :P

I've also been scaring away spiders and hoovering up their cobwebs with a vacuum at the Beatrix Potter Gallery and most recently I attended another course at Rufford Old Hall in Ormskirk on caring for historic wooden floors. Phew, quite a variety of jobs ey?

Finally, this week has seen me help Liz, our House and Collections Manager, to put up the new exhibition in the gallery ready in time to open for the new season.

Some of you might think that this doesn't sound too exciting but I would have to disagree, I mean, I actually get to touch and handle original Beatrix Potter artwork including sketches and watercolours. I do think I'm incredibly lucky sometimes, when I have a great day it's really a great day! :)

This year our exhibition is “On holiday with Beatrix Potter” with a focus on the people who came to visit and meet B. I know you probably think I'm slightly biased but I do urge you to come visit us this year, the exhibition is a great one – plus, if nothing else you can evaluate how straight I have put the artwork up, or not as the case may be..

On Tuesday we were getting some of the art out of the store ready to go up and Liz asked me to find a page in a sketchbook, 'half timbered buildings in Wales'. When I finally found it I was REALLY excited! I actually scared Liz a little with my excited squeal which apparently sounded a bit like I'd had a disaster haha.

Serious conservation face...Silly jumper :)

In the book were sketches and watercolours from different places that Beatrix visited in 1905, what was so exciting is that when I flicked the page and saw the images I instantly recognised them as my home town of Ruthin! Not many people know where this is so I'll explain, it's in a small county called Denbighshire in North East Wales... around 35/40 minutes from Wrexham (coincidentally where the majority of my family are from) if that helps at all? So yep, there is it, this means that I am Welsh, not that you would ever guess it from my (lack of) accent.

They are really rather good drawings and I was so thrilled to see my little town in B's sketchbook that I actually recounted the story of what I had seen to both my parents and wasted no time in telling them which buildings and businesses you can see in the images. For those of you who know the area, look out for The Castle Hotel, Barclays bank and the Wine Vaults :)

Valentine's day is soon approaching (it's a week tomorrow in case any of you still have last minute preparation to do :P ) however today marks another exciting day – tonight Wales takes on England in the 6 Nations Rugby! I know what you're thinking and you would be right, Wales are going to thrash England! We may be a small nation but we're extremely proud and extremely optimistic. It would be wonderful though if the land of dragons and daffodils came out on top – sorry English readers.

To go with this little slice of Welsh pride my “Hello there” comes in the form of this Welsh doll in traditional costume.

Cymru am byth <3

How did B acquire such a thing? To be honest, I have absolutely no idea but I would like to think that it's from one of her Welsh jaunts, one reason to visit the area would be because her uncle had a house in the next town over.

Although Wales is certainly not all about the black traditional hats and red cloaks, I can't help feel a sense of pride that the Welsh are being represented in this way, however small.

Like Pete, I also am looking forward to the arrival of Spring, I don't know about where you are from but here in the Lakes we have been in the minuses a hell of a lot recently and I honestly cannot wait for warmer weather. If I were to include a musical link it would go a little something like this "I can't feel my fingers, I can't feel my toes..."

Hopefully by March's post we'll have some of the sunny stuff :)

For now I will bid you farewell, I'll be back next month with another post but if you're looking for something to do in the mean time, why don't you come visit us when we open again on the 14^th February.

Ta ta for now

Words and pictures by Natalie :)

Exploring the Lake District by foot, bus, bike and boat with Peter rabbit

The Lake District is full of options for people wishing to leave their cars behind.  You really don't need to be an athlete to explore the countryside without a car.  Buses, bikes and boats allow everyone to enjoy the view and avoid congestion on the narrow roads.
 We have explored one of these possibilities with a very famous character; Peter Rabbit.  Peter wanted to follow in the steps of the woman who created him and learn more about her life, talents and legacy as well as seeing her home and many of his friends.

Peter was staying on the Eastern side of Lake Windermere near Bowness and so he decided to set out on his journey by boat.  First decision - whether to get the passenger ferry from Bowness or the car ferry from Ferry Nab.  Owing to Beatrix Potter's connection with Cockshott Point he decided to lollop a few steps south and get the car ferry.  It runs every 20 minutes and takes cars, bikes and pedestrians (and horses).

The next step can be done on foot or by bike or bus.  Peter tried bike but couldn't quite reach the pedals!

He wanted to see where Beatrix Potter first met the Lake District so he set out on the beautiful 4 mile walk along the lake shore to Wray Castle.

Beatrix Potter discovered the Lake District almost by mistake when her parents' regular holiday home in Scotland was unavailable.  She celebrated her 16th birthday at Wray Castle and fell in love with the area ....Maybe you will too!

Peter decided to explore the Castle.  The tour told him all about the castle and the link between Beatrix and one of the founders of the National Trust.  Then he had a play with some friends, built his own castle and polished off his picnic with some hot chocolate.

Then a quick scamper round the outdoor play area   ....

....Then on to discover more about Beatrix's passion and skills in sketching, drawing and painting at the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead - but this time on the bus from Wray Castle.

The bus only takes 10 minutes and the service also runs to and from the ferry if you don't fancy the 4 mile walk Peter did. 

From the bus stop it's only a couple of minutes walk through the village to the Gallery.  Peter couldn't resist a visit to the National Trust shop.

Back to the bus stop and another 10 minute bus ride to Beatrix Potter's house, Hill Top.

The village of Near Sawrey is where Beatrix Potter settled and took refuge from the London life.  It is where she found inspiration for many of her little books.  It was as wonderful as Peter hoped and he managed to catch up with some old friends hopping around the orchard!

Peter had intended to finish his journey by following the footpath through the fields and down to the ferry but he fancied a cup of tea at the Tower Bank Arms which he remembered from reading the story of Jemima Puddleduck  ....

..so, after some refreshment, he caught the bus back to the ferry.

Why don't you follow in the steps of Beatrix Potter like Peter did?  If you're staying in Ambleside you can get a boat directly to Wray Castle.  Maybe Peter will try that on his next visit ...

Bye for now.

Enjoy your holidays  using your feet, bikes, boats and bus to explore!

Potter's Possessions

Beatrix Potter is and always has been a well known figure. She loved her animals and enjoyed including them in her stories, illustrating them with care and precision. The Lake District was one of her passions and she set her mind on preserving it for future generations. Most of all she also loved to fill Hill Top with a plethora of possessions, both familiar and unfamiliar.


There are a lot of quirky objects in the house and through this blog post I'm going to do my best to share some of my favourite ones with you. As we journey through the house you can think of me as your own personal Loyd Grossman (although a more feminine version and with less of an American accent).

So if you're ready, join me as we go “Through The Keyhole”.

Entering the kitchen we see that Beatrix has stuck door knockers onto two of the inside doors. This one on the outside of the parlour door is certainly striking with a metal face and sturdy knocker.

Are you talkin' to me?!

The vast majority of our visitors, staff and volunteers ask why she placed such a thing in an unusual place...
The truth? We don't really know. One theory is that she bought a box of antiques and found it amongst the objects and simply thought “Why not?!!” Another knocker that can be seen in this room is on a cupboard door in the corner of the kitchen. Officially classed as a demon, I'm not so sure, others have called it a devil and a cat.

I'd love to know what you think it looks like!

The hanging cabinet in the corner of the parlour contains the charming Edward VII Coronation teapot (secretly one of my favourite items in the entire house). Here in the cabinet it sits front and centre, commanding your full attention.

Coronation Teapot!!

However, to the rear obscured from view is this beautiful Staffordshire ironstone teapot from the late eighteenth century. Ironstone is a sedimentary rock and was often used in heavy duty dinner services, the teapot is printed with oriental dragon scenes and the ground is painted red. A truly unusual object and something that anyone would be proud to own (I know I would!).

Upstairs the bedroom is decorated with stunning William Morris wallpaper, not everyone has an iconic wallpaper in their house.

Beatrix does, and as much as she enjoyed living the rural life in the Lake District she still enjoyed the finer things in life, and in the end, why ever not?! Beatrix put this up when she moved to the house it's said to cost her a vast sum, however they say you get what you pay for and this it has truly stood the test of time with it's colour still as bright and vibrant in 2014.

The 'Daisy' print

13 stone marbles in the treasure room cabinet often get overlooked, after all, they're only marbles right?

Well, sort of, but they're marbles that Beatrix found in holes in the walls of Hill Top during building work between 1905 and 1906 and that's what makes them interesting. People keep things for all sorts of reasons but for this particular find, perhaps there was no reason other than she liked them and so kept them. I like to think that perhaps she was intrigued by why they were in the walls, and who put them there. I know I am.

Keeping her marbles safe

One of my personal favourites in the house is this little fellow.

He sits in the sitting room cabinet and many people have missed him as they peruse the room. It's easy to do as he's not always visible, especially on duller days (of which we have many in the Lakes), but I think he's absolutely fab.

Ooooh, hellloee!

With wire legs and a red hat, he's not very sturdy and has to be supported with acid free tissue pillows, but he's a little bit unusual and that's what I like about him. Beatrix certainly had an eye for the quirky and different.

I suppose a fitting question to end this post on is, “Who lives in a house like this?” Of course we all know that Beatrix Potter did, but I hope that through this post I've shown a little more of her character. It's only a very small selection of some of the weird and wonderful things that Beatrix collected and in the future I hope be able to share a few more with you.

B-e-a-utiful Hill Top! 

If you're interested in finding out more about any of the items in Beatrix's collection the National Trust's Collections website is a brilliant resource and free to access at http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/ .

I'm off now to explore a few more of Beatrix's vast collection.

Ta ta for now

Words and photos by Natalie :)

Children's Corner at the Beatrix Potter Gallery

Did you know that at the Beatrix Potter Gallery we have a nice cosy Children's Corner - with books and activities suitable for children of different ages?

We've been busy over the Winter making sure there are nice new books that reflect our theme for this year; "On holiday with Beatrix Potter."

We have a Maisy Goes on Holiday Story Sack - aimed at our younger visitors. If you don't know what a 'Story Sack' is - it's literally a story book in a sack (or in this case a lovely 'Herdy' Bag). The idea is that an adult reads the main story to the child and then they use the 'props' in the bag to re-enact or talk about the story. There is usually a more factual book included and a game to play also.

For younger children we also have a beautiful Beatrix Potter themed frieze with magnetic characters and objects on - creating stories in this way certainly fires the children's imaginations.

As our theme is 'Holidays' this year - we also have a wee suitcase that the children can pack and unpack with the kind of things they'd take on a seaside holiday!

One of our very special new exhibits this year in the Beatrix Potter Gallery, is the Natural History Cabinet; full of specimens that Beatrix and her brother, Bertram, collected. You can see butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies, but also shells, rocks and fossils. This cabinet has been very kindly loaned to us by the Beatrix Potter Society.

We've taken the theme of Natural History for the older children's books, including the wonderful true story of Mary Anning, a little girl who found a very important fossil.

Beatrix loved to scramble about looking for fossils while on holiday and she wrote in her journal about a conversation with an elderly gentleman that she met - which shows her magpie like collecting manner!

"He seems to think it positively improper to collect fossils from all over the country, but I do not feel under obligation to confine my attention to a particular formation [...]. I beg to state I intend to pick up everything I find which is not too heavy."

And of course, after all,  we are the Beatrix Potter Gallery and we shall have Storytellers in the Gallery reading Beatrix's lovely stories to both children and adults alike! So if you'd love to hear The Tale of Peter Rabbit read aloud  - please check with us when our storytellers will be in.

An enviable commute to work (Part one)

Caroline from the Business Support team, based at Hill Top, takes a look at her own, and colleagues', commute to work, we don't want to rub it in but your own commute may be slightly less appealing ....

Back in the Eighties and Nineties, my commute to work was via the very overcrowded District and Piccadilly Lines from South Ealing to Covent Garden and Kensington. Impersonating sardines and strap hanging, for up to an hour each way, now seems to be the epitome of a rat race lifestyle that I chose to leave behind over 20 years ago!

My commute for the last 12 years has been enviable, even by non-London commuting standards….

For just over 10 years I travelled up the east side of Coniston Water with views of the lake and The Old Man through all weathers.

There were a few mishaps…. a sliding on some black ice resulting in a near miss with actual lake water (eek!) and a coming-together with a pet food supplier in his big van but on the whole fairly minimal considering how narrow that particular lane can be….

Recently, I was on the Windermere ferry which crosses between Bowness and Ferry Landing and I sent a picture to my son in Edinburgh with a message saying that my life is blessed…. and so it is.....

It got me thinking that it would be interesting to find out my colleagues thoughts on their commute to work. South Lakes staff commute from all directions, some by bike, others by ferry and some have long journeys from as far away as Askam in the west and Penrith in the North, whereas others live next door!

They have sent me pictures and I have collected together a mini exhibition of commuter heaven for a blog gallery! Here it is….

Basecamp staff are very environmentally minded - they all share a lift to work and
this magnificent view of the Langdales is a favourite at all times of the year.

One of our VE assistants walks past the cake shop from the car park to the
Beatrix Potter Gallery and just can't help feasting her eyes on this beauty! (She obviously doesn't
indulge as she's very petite and slender but must have huge willpower!)

The is a rather hairy route from the Rusland Valley for one of our Visitor Services staff in
the depths of winter - the journey proved to be long and difficult but definitely rather impressive!

This VE Assistant commutes to work via bike AND ferry! Many of the staff who come to work
from the Kendal and Windermere area use the ferry rather than drive the extra
miles round the lake. On sunny mornings, it's a splendid start to a day and on warm summer evenings our hard working Ticket Office Manager has been known to catch a few zzz's on the journey over the water.

The road between Hawkshead and Hill Top - a road much travelled for staff that work between
Hill Top, the Beatrix Potter Gallery and Wray Castle, with a wonderful view of Esthwaite Water.
Our Conservation in Action assistants often work at all three places in one day!

One of our House Stewards took this amazing picture of a bracket fungus on her
way to work. She cycles up and over the hills of Grizedale Forest from Satterthwaite
and sees many fabulous views and it's not always about the view....

But sometimes it just is....

A view from the Newby Bridge road across hills and forests towards
the Howgills on a wonderful sunny morning

So, that's all for Part One, look out for Part Two in a few weeks time.

Post by Caroline, Business Support team (with a bit of help from her friends!)

Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter - and the world!

The last few days have seen lots of really exciting goings on around are area of the Lakes - all inspired by Beatrix and what she did 100+ years ago.  There is always lots of interest in Beatrix and her life in the Lakes, particularly around Hill Top, the very first place she bought and the place that remained most special to her.  The 'Miss Potter' film in 2006 generated a massive increase in visitors to Hill Top and other places - and in a few days time, there will be another major new series starting...  However, I jump ahead!

Miss Potter - still very popular (and you can buy the DVD from our Hill Top Shop and support us that way!)

We were very busy on Wednesday hosting a several Japanese press visits including a TV crew shooting for a new show on the Lakes (if you are in Japan in July, keep your eyes open for 'Kosuichihou' on the screen!)  This involved filming inside Hill Top as well as in the garden, the village and other places associated with Beatrix.  We also had a visit from a team from Sony in Japan, also accompanied by a number of press who were also visiting in preparation for the new Peter Rabbit series - it's easy to forget just how 'big' Peter and Beatrix are in Japan and in many other countries around the world.

Cath welcoming the Japanese press to Hill Top - konichiwa!

Later in the week, we welcomed some of the team from Silvergate media and Penguin books who have been working on a new Peter Rabbit animation series for children.  We've been helping them for several years to develop this (it is very much based on the Lakes and the area that Beatrix loved so much) and they were here to discuss how we move it forward.  Indeed, keep your eyes open on our Wray Castle site from some exciting news in the next couple of weeks... http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wray-castle/

They were also here for Saturday, which saw the launch of the new series by the BBC and CBeebies at Zeffirellis cinema in Ambleside.  As one of the key partners with this, several of us were lucky enough to be invited to the premiere - and we then took a number of those present on a boat trip to Wray Castle, the place where, in 1882, Beatrix and her family stayed and where she started her lifelong love of the Lakes.  As well as giving those folks a short taste of what the Castle has to offer, we were also able to persuade everyone else on the boat to come and have a look round as well!

Coming in to the Jetty at Wray Castle - definitely the way to arrive!

It was really exciting to see the new animation series - and keep your eyes open in the next few weeks to see when it launches on CBeebies - it is aimed at about the 3 to 6 year old, but is just as good for the older amongst us!  You'll see many characters that you'll know already - Peter, Benjamin, Nutkin and Mr Tod - as well as a new character called Lily, who is set on Beatrix herself.  We're really hoping that it will bring Peter to a new audience - and from this, to Beatrix, to the classic tales that she wrote, and then to the Lakes and the work we do looking after these special places.  And, as well as all these extra special events and goings on - we've also been very busy looking after all our visitors to give them a great time with us - and looking after the very places that have inspired so much.

A very sneak preview - welcome to Peter, Benjamin - and Lily, coming soon to a screen near you!

 Finally, this week ended with a big local event, the Brathay marathon, where runners complete a circuit of Windermere, England's largest lakes!  The course runs right past the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead - and this year, a group of Brownies were visiting and they all had loads of fun cheering and 'high fiving' the many runners as they went past!

4 miles down - 22 to go, but lots of cheering here!

 As you can see - lots has been going on and it's great for us to be able to tell you a bit more about what goes on beyond the day to day operation of our houses - and keep your eyes open on our websites and with the BBC for the exciting new things that will be coming soon...

John

Three indisputable facts...

Three things are clear when you work here:
1 the weeks when we are closed to the public in the winter disappear at an impossibly fast rate
2 you never know what you might be asked to do next
3 you can encounter Beatrix Potter in surprising ways and places.

With only 4 weeks left before we re-open Hill Top and the Beatrix Potter Gallery (see what we mean about time?!) the race is on to get everything relating to the new Gallery exhibition done. This is where unusual task requests come in as Rose our Operations Manager at Wray Castle and John our Lead Ranger found out. As part of our multi-media presentation of the exhibition in the Gallery we needed to create audio files of extracts from Beatrix Potter's letters and books as well as interviews with those who knew her. Everyone involved headed for Dayve's makeshift sound studio in the Gallery hoping there were no noisy deliveries scheduled for the street outside!

Dayve gets the 'cans' on as Rose does her 'best' Beatrix voice

John plays farmer Tom Storey while Liz is narrator

Rose was asked to reprise her role from last year's exhibition as an 'audio Beatrix Potter' and John (typecast I'm afraid) has become the voice of Beatrix's farm manager Tom Storey; meanwhile Liz our House and Collections Manager provided some conventional narration along with the more lyrical bits.

Now Rose has a northern accent and at the risk of being controversial that may suggest to some that she is not qualified to the be the voice of Beatrix Potter. However, although Beatrix Potter was born and brought up in London she was educated at home and her main vocal influence would have been her parents who were both born and raised in the north west of England. As there is no actual recording in existence of Beatrix speaking it has been impossible to say exactly how she would sound but some of those who remembered her recalled a soft northern accent (hence Rose).

Finally those participating in this audio endeavour suggested that they felt that the spirit of Beatrix  was strong in the room and looking more carefully in the corner (see from the photo below) we can appreciate why!

Who is that in the corner?!

You'll be able to hear the results of the recordings, once Dayve has worked his magic with the audio software when the Gallery re-opens with its new exhibition on Saturday the 9th of February.


post by Linda
photos by Dayve Ward [photographybyward]