Kirjahaku

Octavia Hill (1838–1912) is today best remembered as one of the founders of the National Trust. However, her involvement in education and social reform, and particularly housing, was a large part of her work. Shocked at the poverty and overcrowding she found in London slums, she began to acquire and improve properties which would restore the tenants' dignity and self-respect. She organized a team of volunteer 'district visitors' to help the residents, and especially children, to achieve a better quality of life, including the provision of open spaces, training and recreational amenities. She was considerably influenced by Rev. F.D. Maurice, theologian and social worker, whose son, the editor of this work, married Octavia's sister Emily. The letters from which the 'life' is compiled show her extraordinary ability as an organiser, her humanity, and how much effort she put into her various activities, often overworking until she became ill.

Octavia Hill (1838–1912) is today best remembered as one of the founders of the National Trust. However, her involvement in education and social reform, and particularly housing, was a large part of her work. Shocked at the poverty and overcrowding she found in London slums, she began to acquire and improve properties which would restore the tenants' dignity and self-respect. She organised a team of volunteer 'district visitors' to help the residents, and especially children, to achieve a better quality of life, including recreational amenities. These articles, dating from 1866 to 1875, show the development of her thinking on how to achieve reforms by a mixture of legislation and charity. As the number of properties and helpers grew considerably, she argued that the personal involvement of volunteers achieved more than a larger bureaucracy could. Her work, which was internationally recognised, led to the development of housing associations.

Octavia Hill (1838–1912) is today best remembered as one of the founders of the National Trust. However, her involvement in education and social reform, and particularly housing, was a large part of her work. Shocked at the poverty and overcrowding she found in London slums, she began to acquire and improve properties which would restore the tenants' dignity and self-respect. She organised a team of volunteer 'district visitors' to help the residents, and especially children, to achieve a better quality of life, including the provision of open spaces and recreational amenities. This book of essays and talks, first published in 1877, sets out the principles of this work. She emphasises the importance of access to the countryside for the health of city dwellers, and of creating green areas in towns, and she gives advice to volunteers about helping people to help themselves, rather than doling out money.

Octavia Hill (1838-1912) was an English social reformer who concentrated on the welfare of city dwellers. Hill was a co-founder of the National Trust, as well as the Charity Organisation Society (now known as Family Action), which pioneered the home-visiting service that provided the basis for modern social work in the U. K. One of her main beliefs was that urban workers should have ample open spaces to enjoy and relax in, and she campaigned vehemently against destroying urban woodlands. In her 1877 essay "Open Spaces", Hill argues for the protection of green spaces and against the destroying of existing green, open spaces in London, including Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill Fields-spots that remain open spaces to this day thanks to her efforts. Read & Co. Great Essays is republishing this classic essay now complete with the excerpt "The Open Space Movement" by Charles Edmund Maurice.

Today best remembered as one of the three original founders of the National Trust, Octavia Hill was a pioneering social reformer whose work saw education and housing conditions improved for London's poor, saved Hampstead Heath from the bulldozers, and went towards setting out legislation for public access to green spaces. In this short essay, Hill sets out a clear, concise argument for public access to parks, and argues for the rights we now take for granted. Our Common Land is a forgotten part of our cultural history, and demonstrates exactly why the founders of the National Trust thought it was so important to preserve ancient buildings and estates for the public.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.

"Homes of the London Poor" by Octavia Hill stands as a landmark work in social reform literature, offering a poignant examination of urban poverty and housing conditions during the Victorian era. As a pioneer in housing reform and philanthropy, Hill's book delves into the harsh realities faced by the impoverished residents of London's working-class neighborhoods. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, Hill shines a light on the deplorable living conditions in tenement housing, sparking a movement for slum clearance and improved sanitation. With a steadfast commitment to social justice, she advocates for the rights and dignity of the city's poorest inhabitants, championing charity work and public health initiatives to alleviate their suffering. At its core, "Homes of the London Poor" is a call to action, urging society to confront the systemic injustices that perpetuate urban poverty. Hill's impassioned plea for housing reform reverberates through the pages of her book, inspiring generations of activists and policymakers to strive for a more equitable society. With its blend of rigorous analysis and heartfelt advocacy, Hill's work remains a timeless testament to the power of compassion and social solidarity in the fight against poverty and inequality.