Tales of Beatrix Potter at Melford Hall
Just what is Beatrix Potter's connection with Melford Hall?
Family connections
Beatrix Potter was the cousin of Ethel, Lady Hyde Parker, grandmother of Sir Richard Hyde Parker, the present Baronet of Melford Hall. She visited here on many occasions and painted a series of watercolours of the house. The visitors' book contains numerous signatures and sketches, which mark her visits to the house.
The collections at Melford Hall include several of her soft toys, which served as models for her illustrations.
Beatrix Potter's bedroom
Beatrix Potter slept in the West Bedroom when she stayed at Melford Hall. The room is furnished as it would have been when she frequently visited, with a Victorian bed and furniture.
To the amusement of the Hyde Parker children she would bring her small animals on her visits to the Hall and house them in the adjoining turret room (which can be seen through the open door).
" When we were children we just loved it when she (Beatrix) arrived, for she always brought a cage with mice, another with a hamster or a porcupine and a third with something else in it. It was such fun for all us children."
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck was based on real-life events in the farmyard at Beatrix Potter’s home at Hill Top in the Lake District.
The duck pond in the same tale is based upon an illustration Beatrix Potter drew for the Jeremy Fisher stories when visiting her relatives at Melford Hall.
On display today
The Beatrix Potter Room at Melford Hall displays watercolours and drawings by Beatrix Potter. A model of Jemima Puddle-Duck is also on display, given as a present from Beatrix Potter to the Hyde Parker children.
Upcoming events
Melford Hall's Railway Walk
Sat 20 Apr 2019
10:30-13:00
A popular guided walk taking in some railway and village history as well as both some modern archaeology and the natural beauty of the Suffolk countryside.
Three Mills Walk
Sat 11 May 2019
10:00-13:00
A guided walk along the the old railway line and taking in three water mills as well as Sudbury's famous water meadows
Melford Unwrapped - Beatrix Potter's Melford
Tue 09 Jul 2019
14:00-16:15
A unique opportunity to learn about the part Melford Hall and her cousins the Hyde Parker family played in her drawings and stories.
Melford Unwrapped - A family at sea
Tue 23 Jul 2019
14:00-16:15
A rare opportunity to learn about the naval exploits of the Hyde Parker family
