Autograph Letter Signed ("Beatrix Potter"), Castle Cottage, Sawrey, March 25, 1933
Sawrey: , 1933. Item #06745
"He is a Thoroughly Reliable Man" - A Beatrix Potter Autograph Letter Recommending
Benjamin Dawson, Long-Time Gardener to William Heelis
POTTER, Beatrix. Autograph Letter Signed ("Beatrix Potter"), Castle Cottage, Sawrey, March 25, 1933.
Autograph letter, four pages on a single folded sheet (written on both sides), measuring 6 1/8 x 7 3/4 inches (157 x 196 mm.) when folded.
Written from Castle Cottage only three months after the death of her husband, William Heelis, the letter constitutes a testimonial and character reference for Benjamin Dawson, one of the trusted employees connected with the Potter-Heelis household and estate.
Potter writes:
"I have much pleasure in recommending Benjamin Dawson..."
She explains that Dawson had spent nine years in the service of her late husband, William Heelis, at Lindeth Howe, Storrs, Windermere, but that his employment had ended because the house had been closed.
Potter then provides a detailed summary of Dawson's responsibilities, noting that he had charge of:
• the herbaceous borders,
• the shrubbery,
• the orchard,
• the greenhouse,
• the peach house,
• early vegetables,
• and the kitchen garden,
adding that he also maintained the central-heating system for the house.
Her recommendation concludes with unusually warm praise:
"Mrs Potter had a high opinion of Ben's usefulness; he is a thoroughly reliable man, and strong in health."
The testimonial is signed:
H. B. Heelis
(Mrs W. Heelis)
thus using the formal style by which Potter commonly signed legal and business correspondence after her marriage.
Historical Importance
Letters concerning Potter's literary career are naturally desirable, but references documenting her responsibilities as a landowner and estate manager are considerably scarcer.
Following her marriage to the solicitor William Heelis in 1913, Potter became increasingly involved in farming, estate management, and the supervision of numerous employees connected with her Lake District properties. After Heelis's death in December 1932, she assumed even greater responsibility for the management of the estates.
This letter belongs to the earliest months of her widowhood and demonstrates Potter personally assisting one of her late husband's long-serving employees in securing new work.
It provides valuable evidence of:
• the organisation of the Potter-Heelis estates,
• staffing at Lindeth Howe,
• horticultural practices maintained on the property,
• and Potter's loyalty to long-serving members of the household.
The detailed enumeration of Dawson's gardening duties offers an unusually vivid glimpse into the running of one of the best-known Lake District houses associated with Beatrix Potter.
Condition
Folded as originally sent, with horizontal and vertical mailing folds, light scattered foxing and a few minor handling marks. Very well preserved.
A contemporary pencil note on the blank page records the provenance of the reference, noting that it was retained together with another testimonial because it illustrated the manner in which Potter wrote following the death of her mother. While not contemporary with the letter itself, the note forms part of the document's later history.
Importance within the Archive
Among the letters you have shown me so far, I would now rank them as follows:
1. 9 October 1937 nursing letter —
o A substantial historical document concerning rural nursing administration and the consequences of the Nurses Registration Act.
2. 25 March 1933 Benjamin Dawson testimonial —
o An excellent estate-management letter written shortly after William Heelis's death.
o Rich in biographical and horticultural content.
o Strong appeal to collectors of Potter manuscripts and Lake District history.
3. Sir Benjamin Brodie letter —
4. Earlier Nurse Edwards letter —.
Price: $5,500.00