Annie Armitt married Stanford Harris in 1877 and went to live near Hawkshead in the Lake District. Beatrix Potter was one of the Armitt's earliest supporters, and the collection holds a number of her family's books, her own first edition copies of her books, and a large number of botanical watercolours by her. In 1912 youngest sister, Mary Louisa, founded The Armitt Library, now known as The Armitt, a museum, library and gallery, devoted to preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of the Lake District.

Undaunted however, together they opened a school in Eccles, Lancashire, which thrived, allowing them to travel and continue their own studies. Unusually for the time Mr Armitt wanted to give his talented daughters a first class education, but in 1867 this plan went awry when their father died suddenly leaving the trio facing severe financial difficulties. A.M.H.'Īnnie Maria Armitt (1850-1933), one of three gifted and well-educated sisters, was a novelist, poet, short story writer, and essayist. ', initialled 'A.M.H' on both pastedowns the half-title additionally inscribed 'I think Jemima Puddle Was a very foolish duck She made a wretched muddle, And scarce deserved her luck.

Stanford Harris, Rydal Cottage, August 1912' and with six stanzas of verse by Annie Harris née Armitt on the front free endpaper and rear endpapers, beginning 'In memory of Rydal Where Mary lived awhile. Inscribed on the front free endpaper 'Mary Mackenzie from Mrs.

The story of jemima puddle duck