After Warne’s death, Potter purchased Hill Top Farm in the village of Sawrey (then in Lancashire, now in Cumbria), in the Lake District.[8] She loved the landscape, and visited the farm as often as she could, discussing the casio watches set-up with farm manager John Cannon.[9] With the steady stream of royalties from her books, she began to buy pieces of land under the guidance of local solicitor William Heelis. In 1913 at the age of 47, Potter married Heelis and moved to Hill Top Farm permanently. Some swiss army watches of Potter’s best-loved works show the Hill Top farmhouse and the village. While the couple had no children, the farm was constantly alive with dogs, cats and even a pet hedgehog named “Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle”.On moving to the Lake District, Potter became engrossed in breeding and showing Herdwick sheep.[8] She became a respected farmer, a judge at local agricultural shows, and President of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders’ Association. When Potter’s parents breitling watches died, she used her inheritance to buy more farms and tracts of land. After some years, Potter and Heelis moved down into the village of Sawrey, and into Castle Cottage — where the local children knew her for her grumpy demeanour, and called her “Auld Mother Heelis”.[10] Her letters of the time reflect her increasing concerns with her sheep, preservation of farmland, and World War II.
