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; 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

Lauderdale House

Lauderdale House

Originally built for Richard Martin (Lord Mayor of London) in 1582 with a timber frame. In the early 17th Century it was occupied by Sir Henry Hobart.  Later Mary, Countess of Home extended the hou...

Building, Gardens / Agriculture, Property

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
Onyx Environmental Trust

Onyx Environmental Trust

We think this group is now (2015) called Veolia.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Philip Pusey

Philip Pusey

One of the Commissioners for the Great Exhibition, 1851.Agriculturist. Born Pusey, Berkshire. Died Christ Church, Oxford.

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Task Force Trees

Task Force Trees

Countryside Commission's Task Force Tree Programme

Group, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials

Previously viewed

USAAF - European HQ

USAAF - European HQ

The HQ of the United States Army Air Forces moved from London to Camp Griffiss in Bushy Park and then, following the success of D-Day, to France.

Group, Armed Forces, USA

13 memorials
South Bank mosaic - Lilian Baylis

South Bank mosaic - Lilian Baylis

SE1, South Bank Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall / Purcell Room

These mosaics are laid in the pavement in a rather sad, out the way, corner of the South Bank, at street level, near the non-main entranc...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Palace Theatre - stage door

Palace Theatre - stage door

W1, Greek Street, Palace Theatre

Palace Theatre - Stage Entrance The world's greatest artistes have passed and will pass through these doors.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
William Caslon

William Caslon

Caslon came from the West Midlands. Created the Caslon typeface, first used in 1726. Caslon Old Face was used for printing the American Declaration of Independence. Working in Aldersgate Caslon was...

Person, Craft / Design

3 memorials
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