Person    | Female  Born 3/12/1838  Died 13/8/1912

Octavia Hill

Housing reformer and co-founder of The National Trust. Born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, her father's eighth daughter (yes, really). She believed that social housing should be small houses (rather than large blocks of flats) and in towns rather than in the suburbs. Working with John Ruskin she created 15 housing schemes in London to provide accommodation to 3,000 people.

Supporting the idea that Hill should appear on British bank notes, Pam Alexander wrote in a letter to the Guardian, July 2013: "{her} work benefited men, women and children and continues today. Octavia pioneered social housing and encouraged all her tenants to develop their skills in order to live fulfilled lives, however low their income. She cofounded the National Trust and coined the term green belt. Her Kyrle Society, supported by William Morris, was the forerunner of the Civic Trust and instrumental in the creation of Vauxhall Park; her training of housing managers led directly to the Charted Institute of Housing; and she made key contributions to modern social work and occupational therapy. Her focus on " a hand up rather than a handout" was controversial but is still an appropriate debate today."

Caroline's Miscellany has a good post about this "do-gooder". 2012: a memorial stone in Westminster Abbey to be dedicated on 22 October.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Octavia Hill

Commemorated ati

Morley mosaics - KEW - Octavia Hill

Octavia Hill, born 1838. The founder of modern social work through her tirele...

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Octavia Hill - Finchley

Hill's family were living in Brownswell Cottages in 1851. These were on Finc...

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Octavia Hill Housing Trust

It would be nice to know who did the giving but we can't find out.

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Octavia Hill - moved

The plaque is located on the first floor of the building and is not on view t...

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Octavia Hill - NW1

Octavia Hill, a pioneer in housing reform built these cottages "for the peopl...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Octavia Hill

Creations i

Red Cross Garden 2

The roundel was created by a glass-making firm, James Powell and Son, after a...

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Other Subjects

David Ashmore

David Ashmore

At the time of his death Ashmore was a landscape architect involved in the creation of Burgess Park, living at Lordship Lane, SE22, single, aged 20-30. See Geoffrey Mills for details. Andrew Behan...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Tragedy

1 memorial
Harold Nicolson

Harold Nicolson

Diplomat and politician. Born as Harold George Nicolson at the British legation, Tehran in what was then Persia. Joined the diplomatic service in 1909 and served in various posts. Entered parliamen...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Literature, Politics & Administration, Germany, Iran/Persia, Spain, Turkey

1 memorial
South Woodford copper beech tree

South Woodford copper beech tree

Located in the grounds of St Mary's Church, South Woodford. We have been unable to discover its age.

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
John Runtz

John Runtz

Born at 3 William Street, Kingsland Road. He became a Tunbridge Ware manufacturer, then a music teacher. He broadened his interests to the general education of working-class children and became the...

Person, Education, Gardens / Agriculture, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Nicholas Culpeper

Nicholas Culpeper

Physician, botanist, herbalist, astrologer and writer. Probably born at Ockley, Surrey. In about 1635 left Cambridge and came to London. This was prompted by the death of his intended. On her way t...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Science

1 memorial

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Southbank Mosaics / London School of Mosaic

Southbank Mosaics / London School of Mosaic

Southbank Mosaics actively promotes equal opportunities and cross-cultural, inter-generational mosaic art work. The studio aims to draw on the historic roots of local neighbourhoods traversed by Sh...

Group, Art, Community / Clubs, Craft / Design

26 memorials