Explore the life of Beatrix Potter one of the most iconic and influential figures of the Lake District at the Armitt Museum.
Beatrix Potter was a member of the Armitt almost from its founding in 1912. She was a major benefactor and on her death in 1943 she bequeathed the museum exquisite botanical drawings and watercolours, together with her personal first edition copies of her ‘little’ books.

Along with this archive material from the National Trust Archive, The Frederick Warne Archive, and the Beatrix Potter Society, the Armitt Museum has created a fascinating exhibition.

Between 1888 and 1898 Beatrix Potter developed a passion for the study of mycology, culminating in her research paper on the germination of macro-fungi being presented to England’s oldest natural history organization, The Linnean Society in London. The intriguing outcome of her venture into Victorian science can be discovered in ‘Image and Reality’.

During this period she produced over 450 drawings and watercolours to support her research. These works have the almost unique distinction of being both scientifically accurate and beautiful works of art, and can be seen as part of the exhibition.

Beatrix Potter also had a strong entrepreneurial streak that lasted long after she lost interest in publishing. From 1913 she turned away from writing to take up farming in her beloved Lake District. This became her life. In the final act of this singular journey she used her great wealth to buy up large areas of the Lake District, that she believed were at risk, with the sole purpose of leaving it all to the nation through the National Trust.

‘Image and Reality’ is Beatrix Potter’s remarkable story told through her own words and images and through the great wealth of archival material held at the Armitt; a portrait of an extraordinarily rich life lived during a period of great social upheaval.

Armitt Museum and Library
Rydal Road
Ambleside
Cumbria
LA22 9BL

Tel: +44 (0)1539 431212

Email: [email protected]

Image & Reality is a permanent exhibition at the museum - click here to visit the website for more details.

Below is Leccinum Versipelle by Beatrix Potter.