Celebrating 160 Years of Mischief and Magic
The Year of Beatrix Potter
As we step into 2026, we aren't just starting a new calendar year; we are embarking on a year-long celebration of a true British icon. This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, and we couldn't be more excited to honour the legacy of the woman who inspired our beautiful products and brought the Lake District into our homes.
Beatrix was far more than just a storyteller. She was a visionary illustrator, a pioneering scientist, and a dedicated conservationist whose love for the English countryside preserved thousands of acres for us to enjoy today. But for many of us, our first introduction to her world was through a little rabbit in a blue jacket.
The Letter That Changed Everything: How Beatrix Potter Created an Icon
The story of the world’s most famous rabbit actually began not as a book, but as a letter of comfort. In 1893, Beatrix Potter sat down to write to Noel Moore, the young son of her former governess, who was homebound with an illness. Lacking news to share, she began: 'I don't know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits whose names were — Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter.' Accompanying her words were delicate sketches inspired by her own real-life pet rabbit, Peter Piper, whom she often walked on a leash and taught to jump through hoops. That simple act of kindness evolved into a self-published 'little book' in 1901, forever changing the landscape of children's literature and giving us the charming, blue-jacketed hero we celebrate in our collections today.
Tales That Never Grow Old
Even 160 years later, the appeal of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle remains timeless. Why? Because Beatrix never 'wrote down' to children. She captured the enchantment of nature while respecting its realities, creating characters with distinct, often cheeky personalities that resonate across generations.
Her artwork — with its soft watercolours and meticulous attention to detail — has inspired our designers for almost forty years. Every gift we create is a tribute to that original charm, reimagined for the modern home.
'I remember I used to half believe and wholly play with fairies when I was a child. What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood?' — Beatrix Potter
As we celebrate 160 years of Beatrix Potter, we invite you to rediscover the magic. Whether you’re a lifelong collector or introducing a new generation to the world of Hill Top Farm, 2026 is a year to cherish the 'spirit-world' she left behind.
Happy Anniversary, Beatrix!