Plaque

Octavia Hill - NW1

Erection date: 11/12/1995

Inscription

Octavia Hill, a pioneer in housing reform built these cottages "for the people" in 1895. The were restored in their centenary year by the Octavia Hill Housing Trust.

{Below this there is a very small brass plaque:}
This plaque was unveiled by Baroness Blackstone, 11th December 1995.

Site: Octavia Hill - NW1 (1 memorial)

NW1, Ranston Street, 29/30

This charming street, still largely as built, was designed by Elijah Hoole. Most of it (5-11 and 21-37) is listed Grade II. It replaced the infamous slum Charles Street where W.T. Stead's prostitute, Eliza Armstrong, lived. As we researched this area we slowly cycled down a quiet side street passing a stopped car whose driver was having a mild dispute with two women on the pavement. We overheard one of the women say "I’m a reasonable person, I am - I can’t see me giving you a half hour and then walking off into the sunset without you paying me for it." Impossible not to be reminded of that other Eliza from this area and her "I'm a good girl, I am".

There is another plaque opposite, at number 8, "St Botolphs Cottages, 1895". And another one near number 34, which rather strangely, seems to have been placed in front of a down-pipe. The down-pipe has been repaired/replaced at some time, thus rendering the plaque illegible, but it used to read "Almond Cottages".

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Octavia Hill - NW1

Subjects commemorated i

Octavia Hill

Housing reformer and co-founder of The National Trust.  Born at Wisbech, Camb...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Octavia Hill - NW1

Created by i

Octavia Housing

Not-for-profit organisation with a strong track record in social housing and ...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Red Lines

Red Lines

SE1, Tower Bridge Road

We only know about this small plaque, laid in the pavement near the kerb, because we know someone whose business is painting lines on roa...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Lao She

Lao She

W11, St James's Gardens, 31

Lao She, 1899 - 1966, Chinese writer, lived here 1925 - 1928. English Heritage

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Royal Silver Wedding at Barbican

Royal Silver Wedding at Barbican

EC2, Gilbert walkway, Barbican

This plaque is at the north end of the Gilbert walkway over the water gardens. This Londonist post contains some photos of the Queen visi...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Winifred Darch

Winifred Darch

IG10, Alderton Hill, Roding Valley High School

This building was the County High School for Girls opened in 1908. The children's author Winifred Darch (1884 - 1960) was a teacher here....

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Atkinsons Carillon

Atkinsons Carillon

W1, Old Bond Street, 24

In the photograph of the building the plaque is at the corner, behind the right-most man of the group of three.

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Girdlers' Hall

Girdlers' Hall

EC2, Basinghall Avenue

The current building, 1961, was designed by C Ripley.

3 subjects commemorated, 7 creators
Bronislaw Wojciech Niedbala

Bronislaw Wojciech Niedbala

Born Poland.  His workshop was in Mitcham Goods Yard.   2015: Niedbala’s son, Marek, wrote to say that “When WWII started he was taken to a Russian work camp in Siberia then spent the duration in ...

Person, Sculpture, Poland

1 memorial