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.

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:
Octavia Hill

Commemorated ati

Morley mosaics - KEW - Octavia Hill

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

Read More

Octavia Hill - Finchley

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

Read More

Octavia Hill Housing Trust

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

Read More

Octavia Hill - moved

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

Read More

Octavia Hill - NW1

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

Read More

Show all 8

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...

Read More

Other Subjects

Margaret Mellor

Margaret Mellor

As a Waterloo resident Margaret worked from about 1972 on community planning in Waterloo.  Her main aims have been to increase social housing for families and green open space for everyone.  She co...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Social Welfare

1 memorial
The Friends of Greenwich Park

The Friends of Greenwich Park

A charity dedicated to the conservation, improvement and enjoyment of Greenwich Park.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Victoria Park Society

Victoria Park Society

Tower Hamlets have a "copy of the Constitution, showing that the society was founded 11 May 1970". Founders included: Israel Renson and Peggy Temple. We've found reference to this group being acti...

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials
Market Gardens at Burgess Park

Market Gardens at Burgess Park

Our image is an extract from Stanfords 1862-71 map of London. Albany Road is the main road about a third of the way down; St George's Church is at the lower left; the present-day Chumleigh Gardens ...

Place, Food & Drink, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Sir John Sinclair

Sir John Sinclair

Founder and president of the first Board of Agriculture. Born Scotland into family of the Earls of Caithness. 1780 entered the House of Commons. Promoted a scientific and statistical approach to ag...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Politics & Administration, Science, Scotland

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Lord Kelvin

Lord Kelvin

Mathematical physicist and engineer. Born Belfast. His family moved to Glasgow when he was aged 11. Worked in thermodynamics and on the transatlantic cable. 1st Baron Kelvin. Died Largs Ayrshire.

Person, Science, Ireland, Scotland

5 memorials