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

Friends of Vauxhall Park

Friends of Vauxhall Park

Established in 1999, the Friends of Vauxhall Park is a voluntary group whose aim is to protect and enhance Vauxhall Park as a place of freedom, recreation and enjoyment for all sections of the loca...

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials
Nelson Recreation Ground

Nelson Recreation Ground

From London Gardens Online: The land here was open fields until the C18th when it was purchased by the Trustees of Guy's Hospital for use as a burial ground for deceased patients. It continued as a...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Tom Stuart-Smith
1 memorial
Edward Bowles

Edward Bowles

Horticulturalist. Born Edward Augustus Bowles but professionally known as E. A. Bowles. Born at his family's home, Myddelton House near Enfield, where he later created a garden, now open to the pu...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials
Israel Renson

Israel Renson

The National Archives describe Renson as 'chemist and local historian" and give four paragraphs of his life story. In brief: of Russian descent, born in Scarborough Street E1, but in 1910 the famil...

Person, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Louise Soloway

Louise Soloway

Sculptor.  Born and educated in London.  The picture shows her at the Mendoza unveiling in 2008.  See Topic Asia for more information.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial