The purchase of Hill Top was a turning point in Beatrix Potter’s life.
Though she continued to live in London with her demanding parents, she spent as much time as she could at Hill Top, learning about farming from her farm manager, John Cannon.
She began to use the royalties from her books to buy more land and property, employing a local solicitor, William Heelis, to assist and advise on her purchases.
Beatrix married William Heelis in 1913 at the age of 47, despite her parents’ disapproval of the match. After her marriage, she devoted herself almost entirely to farming, and in particular to breeding Herdwick sheep. She became a respected farmer, a judge at local agricultural shows, and President of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders’ Association.
It was her concern for farming and the preservation and care of the land, which led to Beatrix’s connection with the National Trust. She was living through a period of great change for agriculture and the local community. Valleys were being transformed by large-scale forestry, and a lack of planning control meant that the landscape was under threat from developers.
Beatrix was deeply concerned by this. She understood that the Lake District landscape was a working landscape, and she worked closely with the National Trust to ensure its survival.
When she died in 1943, Beatrix left 4,000 acres of land, including 15 farms, to the care of the National Trust. Her legacy has ensured the survival of the Lakeland landscape and way of life that she loved so well.
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