A STONE cottage once owned by Beatrix Potter has gone up for sale in Coniston.

Surrounded by woodland, the charming stone four-bed is one in a row of several properties once owned by Beatrix, under her married name of Mrs Heelis, which is recorded in the property deeds.

The houses were built for the quarry men who worked Hodge Close Quarry for slate nearby.

At one point, there were around 70 people living in the row, enough for their own football team and Beatrix came up to discuss where the team could practice.

In 1930 Beatrix bought the whole 4,000-acre Monk Coniston estate, upon which the houses were set, in a deal which involved the National Trust, when it came up for sale in 1930.

Eventually she decided to sell the houses and give Holme Ground Farm to the National Trust.

However, although a great supporter of the Trust, her letters show she became irritated with the way that, in her view, they failed to look after the farm properly, and she regretted giving it to them.

Owner Bill Sharrod said: “Beatrix took a great interest in her tenants and all the land and as the property had once belonged to her great grandfather, she would have known it well.

“When she was older, she changed from a children’s writer to a farmer and property owner, advised by her husband, the solicitor, William Heelis, and an expert on Herdwick sheep and was often seen with a sack tied round her middle as an apron.

“To the world she was Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit, but to the people round here she was just Mrs Heelis, farmer.

“The house we are selling was the quarry manager’s home and it is bigger than the others. It’s a lovely home with the most outstanding views, surrounded by National Trust Land and of course it’s a little bit of local history, too.”

For more information or to book a viewing, visit: https://www.purplebricks.com/property-for-sale/4-bedroom-end-of-terrace-house-coniston-221277/#