130-year-old mystery Beatrix Potter photo taken in Cornwall

The children's author was photographed by her father Rupert Potter while sat on a rowing boat in 1894 - but the exact location of the iconic snap has remained a mystery for decades.

Cornish historian Barry West has spent three years trying to find the location - and after almost giving up hope he managed to narrow the hunt down to a picturesque creek in Cornwall.

And he has now been able to confirm Beatrix was sat at Froe Creek, where there was once a tidal mill on the Roseland Peninsula - and has even organised a trip for fans to retrace her steps.

The location was not previously known to the Beatrix Potter Society who have hailed the 'exciting' discovery.

Barry said: "I visited Hill Tops in the Lake District around 2008, I was in awe of this beautiful unspoiled home and the surrounding landscape and was captivated by all that Beatrix had achieved in her lifetime.

"I soon realised she was not only the most gifted writer and Ilustrator of children’s books but it became very apparent that there was much more to her than I imagined.

"I began in earnest to research her and discovered her journals that had decoded by Leslie Linder.

"I was also able to identify from her letters a fascinating insight into how she was inspired by what she captured, saw, experienced and it was obvious she was interested in the people the industrial, the social side of life and the environment.

"I saw the photograph of her in a boat up a remote creek and felt I needed to discover the location.]

"And after several years of searching with the assistance of Tash Berks in Falmouth I was finally able to confirm and identify the very location where it all happened 130 years ago."

Beatrix Potter photographed by her father Rupert in 1894 on the Roseland Peninsula (Image: Barry West)

Helen Beatrix Potter was born on July 28, 1866 so in 1894 would have been 27.

The Potters' 1894 spring holiday was in Falmouth, where Beatrix was duly photographed by her father on March 31.

The image shows a young Beatrix sat in a small boat wearing a hat and coat, looking very serious.

To the left of the photograph at front of boat the fisherman or captain leans on the boat, bearded an with his cap on.

In the background are two distinctive buildings, one of which appears to be a small waterside boathouse and the other is a long building with a sloped end.

Barry added: "These still look virtually the same and are unspoilt visually so make an excellent reference point.

"There is also a significant house in the image that is now partly obscured by a more recent development but has not spoiled the view and wonderful setting.

Barry with his granddaughter Lyla at the same location in the photograph (Image: Barry West)

"Until last summer this location was not known to the Beatrix Potter Society and after three years of painstakingly searching for the spot where Rupert Potter had taken the photograph, I was finally able to pinpoint it.

"I achieved this with the assistance of Tash Berks of Falmouth who suggested I go look at a place named Froe Creek where there was once a tidal mill on the Roseland Peninsula.

"A mystery that had remained unsolved for decades has finally been concluded."

The Beatrix Potter society said Rupert Potter was in the habit of making multiple copies of his photographs so they are difficult to keep track of, and he did not always inscribe them.

This particular one, however, is inscribed on the back: 'Falmouth/March 31 1894/R Potter'. “ During her stays here she sent illustrated letters to Noel and Eric Moore, the children of her former governess Annie, that went on to become the inspiration for her famous stories that illustrated letters are particularly interesting to see and to read.

In a letter to Eric Moore, Beatrix Potter wrote to Eric Moore it was dated March 28, 1894, written and illustrated whilst staying at the Pendennis Hotel in Falmouth.

She refers the well known rhyme of the owl and the pussy-cat: And writes the following… “I have read about the owl & the pussy cat, who went to sea in a pea green boat, but I never saw anything of that kind till today'.

She goes on to create a story about a pig which lives on board a ship but flees in a little rowing boat when the ship's cook wants to make it into sausages.

The pig lives the remainder of its life on Robinson Crusoe's Island. The story seems most likely an early inspiration for Potter's Tale of Little Pig Robinson Barry said Rupert was probably the single greatest influence on his daughter's enduring passion for the arts and natural history and on her development as a writer and illustrator.

He took up photography in the 1860s when it was still a relatively new art form as an enthusiastic and skilled amateur.

Barry added: "Photography was an expensive and laborious process yet she appears to have patiently sat or posed for the camera’s long exposure times as her father undoubtedly strived to capture the moment the setting and test his skills.

"During the family's holidays it was Beatrix's delight or perhaps duty to accompany her father on his photographic expeditions.

"The family would often take a spring break and over the years this meant the occasional trip to Cornwall.

"Beatrix even up to her early 20s had never taken a holiday without her parents.

"We know that the family were here together through her writings."

Leslie Linder studied and collected Beatrix Potter's work at a time when little was known of the artist.

She was able to decipher Potter's journal, which she had written in code.

Reflecting on his mission, Barry said: "For three years I visited different places remote and often isolated.

"I walked and I scrambled through hedgerows , I reached out to friends and to those who make a living or use the rivers and the waterways for leisure to help identify the location.

"I used social media, contacted institutions and I looked through books and and photos online but drew a blank.

"Finally after making another appeal to a friend in Falmouth Tash Berks she was able to suggest a possible site.

"Within 45 minutes I was there up to my ankles in mud.

"At last my endeavours and persistence had paid off."

He then took his granddaughter Lyla, aged nine, to the scene to recreate the image.

Over the Easter weekend a group of 50 or so people came to St Mawes to remember Beatrix Potter's Easter visit and explore the local area.

The group at St Mawes Castle (Image: Barry West)

The Potters' 1894 spring holiday was in Falmouth and the third successive year they went to Cornwall.

A spokesperson for the Beatrix Potter Society said: "After many years of researching Beatrix Potter's connections with Cornwall, Cornwall historian Barry West has solved a mystery surrounding a photograph of Beatrix Potter sitting in a row boat.

"The photograph was taken somewhere in Cornwall- but the exact location was always a mystery. Thanks to Barry's dedication and perseverance, he was able to pinpoint exactly where this photograph was taken.

"We are so delighted that Barry has made this amazing discovery."