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

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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

Lawrence Hall

Lawrence Hall

Built as an exhibition hall for the Royal Horticultural Society, initially called the New Hall. Architects: John Murray Easton and Howard Robertson.  An Art Deco building with interesting detailing...

Building, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials
Friends of St George's Gardens

Friends of St George's Gardens

Their website describes the gardens thus: "An oasis of calm used every week by hundreds of people living and working in London WC1."

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
World Wildlife Fund

World Wildlife Fund

Now known as the World Wide Fund for Nature. It is an international non-governmental organisation, working in wilderness preservation, and the reduction of human intervention on the environment. J...

Group, Animals, Gardens / Agriculture, Politics & Administration

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Previously viewed

Bedford College for Women, University of London

Bedford College for Women, University of London

Founded by Elizabeth Jesser Reid as the Ladies College, the first higher education college for women.  In 1900 it became part of the University of London and in 1913 moved to larger purpose built p...

Group, Education, Gender Issues

2 memorials
Palace Theatre

Palace Theatre

Richard D'Oyly Carte intended the theatre to be the home of English grand opera, as a counterpart to the light operas that were produced at the Savoy Theatre, and it opened with Sir Arthur Sullivan...

Building, Theatre

2 memorials