Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Scots Corner - Beatrix Potter and Dunkeld

I love Beatrix Potter books. I've read most of them and used to read them to my children when they were young. We visited the Lake District a few years ago and skirted the edge of it this year.
Beatrix was born in England but every summer between 1871 and 1881 the family rented Dalguise House, near Dunkeld, in Perthshire. "The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Mr McGregor's Garden" was written while she was in Scotland and there is a Beatrix Potter Exhibition and Garden at The Birnam Institute.

Maggie at http://crossblackcountry.blogspot.com/2009/11/beatrix-potter.html recently spent a weekend at Yew Tree Farm (Lake District) and shared some photographs which are gorgeous.
Back to Dunkeld. Located about 15 miles north of Perth it is a gorgeous wee town on the River Tay surrounded by beautiful scenery, one of the tallest trees in Britain and great walks. Kenneth McAlpin the first king of Scotland (843 to 858) made Dunkeld the first ecclesiastical capital of Scotland. The "Little Houses" of Dunkeld built during the early 1799's are now in the care off The National Trust For Scotland. http://www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?lm=49 Dunkeld is considered to be one of the most complete 18th century towns in Scotland. Most of the original town was destroyed during the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689. The Cathedral was started in 1260 and is still in use.

4 comments:

Dolores said...

Thanks for the links. I enjoyed the tour. My middle daughter collected all the Beatrix Potter books but we have yet to see the film. Maybe I should suggest renting it over the holidays.

Anonymous said...

Carol, thank you so much for all the tidbits of history you share with us. I try to read them all. I just went over to Maggie's blog and thanked her for the BP pictures she shared. How interesting it all was!
thanks,
babs in alabama

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Oh, I just love Beatrix Potter and her wonderful story books.
The grandchildren were raised on the stories, and even now they are grown, we play them, when they spend the night :)
She was a very generous, and talented young woman, leaving over 4000 acres to the National Historic Trust, I greatly admire her.
Lovely post !

Carol said...

Thanks ladies. Beatrix Potter was an amazing lady.