8 Bedford Square, home of the Warne Family. Beatrix Potter, or Helen Beatrix Potter (1866-1943), a British children's book author and illustrator, was secretly engaged to the publisher, Norman Warne. Her parents were against her marrying anyone who worked for a living. Norman died before the engagement, causing a breach between Beatrix and her parents. The Magic Years of Beatrix Potter page 120. . *** Local Caption ***