Person    | Male  Born 21/12/1873  Died 18/2/1948

Lawrence Chubb

Lawrence Chubb

Sir Lawrence Wensley Chubb was an Anglo-Australian professional Secretary whose work was on environmentalist causes.

Born in Australia, he migrated to England and in 1891 was working as an auctioneer’s clerk and living with an uncle in Southwark. In 1895 Chubb became the first Secretary of the newly formed National Trust. Secretary of the Commons, Open Spaces and Footpaths Preservation Society, 1895-1948. Secretary of the National Playing Fields Association (now Fields in Trust), 1928-48.  Knighted in 1930.

Married in 1905. His son was also named Lawrence Wensley Chubb. Died Richmond.

From How Hampstead Heath Was Saved, a story of ‘people power’ by Helen Lawrence: “Another leading member of this circle was Lawrence Chubb, an Australian who came to London as a student in 1887. A keen walker, he was soon drawn into the open spaces movement by Octavia Hill after she heard him speak at a debate. He became the first Secretary of the National Trust from its foundation in 1895, then Secretary of the Commons Preservation Society, where he worked closely with Shaw Lefevre and Robert Hunter, founded the Ramblers’ Association, and played an instrumental role in saving Kenwood. All saw the provision of green open space and fresh air as part of the solution to the problems of the poor, and all had links to the campaign to extend Hampstead Heath.”

From Three Points of the Compass: In 1905 Chubb and J. A. Southern founded the London Federation of Rambling Clubs.

Campaigner Kate criticises Chubb for his role in the passing of the Access to Mountains Act 1939 which she considers to contain "pernicious provisions". "The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, with its imperfections and limited application, is undoubtedly far better". This controversy is covered at Open Spaces Society which closes with: "By the time of the annual report of 1946 Chubb had had the sense to admit that the act was unworkable; fortunately, it never came into operation. The war intervened and the act was repealed by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949."

Media Storehouse have a photo of Chubb, which is rather silly and does not really help one know what he looked like. It's captioned: "Hartley Country Club ( Sir Lawrence Chubb ) 1935".  Old Tonbridge have a 1934 photo of Chubb but there are 5 men in the photo, only one of which is identified, and it's not Chubb.

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

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Lawrence Chubb

Commemorated ati

Lawrence Chubb shelter - lost plaque

We are guessing that the plaque was fixed to the oblong section of wall that ...

Read More

Other Subjects

William Curtis Ecological Park

William Curtis Ecological Park

The William Curtis Ecological Park was the United Kingdom's first urban ecology park. Max Nicholson and the Trust for Urban Ecology (created at the same time, by Nicholson) created it on a derelict...

Place, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Wacy 2000

Wacy 2000

Wacy 2000 stands for 'World Association for Celebrating Year 2000'.   It was founded by John Goodman, a children’s entertainer based in Golders Green.  The Montreal Gazette of 19 March 1970 intervi...

Group, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
PEER

PEER

From their website: "PEER is an independent arts organisation that has evolved from the ground up over the past twenty years, putting down deep roots within the socially,  culturally and economical...

Group, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Great Trees of London

Great Trees of London

Great Trees of London was a list created by Trees for Cities after the Great Storm of 1987, when the general public were asked to suggest suitable trees. 41 were chosen, with a further 20 added in ...

Concept, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials
St James's Square Trust

St James's Square Trust

From the Picture source website: "... the St James’s Square Trust is intent on preserving tranquility and avoiding the incursion of large, disruptive commercial ventures in the Square. The gardens ...

Group, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Red Cross Garden 1

Red Cross Garden 1

SE1, Redcross Way, 50

The plaque is in a sheltered area just to the left of our main photograph. The quotation is an edited version of Isaiah 35:1, “The wilder...

1 subject commemorated
Christopher Newport

Christopher Newport

Seaman. Baptised at Harwich, Essex, on 29 December 1561. He was the captain of the Susan Constant, the largest of the three ships which carried settlers to found the Jamestown Settlement in 1607. I...

Person, Exploring, Indonesia, USA

1 memorial