Beatrix Potter

A Victorian Childhood

Beatrix Potter was born on July 28th, 1866 at No 2, Bolton Gardens, Kensington, London. A typical Victorian family, the Potters lived in a large house with several servants. Beatrix was cared for by a nurse, and she spent long hours alone, only seeing her parents at bedtime and on special occasions.

Her brother Bertram was born when she was six, and the children were educated at home by a governess until Bertram was old enough to attend school. Beatrix stayed at home under the care of a sequence of governesses who encouraged her to read and write and taught her music and art.

Beatrix Potter's Holidays

Beatrix Potter discovered her love of nature on annual summer holidays in Scotland and the Lake District. She and Bertram explored the woods and fields, caught and tamed wild animals, and sketched and painted all they saw.

It was while staying near Windermere in the Lake District in 1882 that the Potters became friendly with the local vicar, Canon Harwicke Rawnsley. Rawnsley was already concerned by the effects of industry and tourism on the natural beauty of the Lake District. He taught Beatrix the importance of preserving the countryside, a cause that was to remain close to her heart for the rest of her life.

Beatrix Potter's Pets

Mr and Mrs Potter were overprotective parents and discouraged friendships with other children, but Beatrix and Bertram had each other for company and together they collected a menagerie of pets which they kept in the schoolroom. At one stage, they had a green frog, two lizards, some water newts, a ring-snake, a tortoise and a rabbit, all of which were carefully studied by the children. Beatrix covered pages with sketches of them and almost all of her famous characters are based on the pets that she used to own.

See also Beatrix Potter's Life

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