National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is an organisation which works to preserve and protect coastline, countryside and buildings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The trust does not operate in Scotland, where there is an independent National Trust for Scotland.

History

The Trust was founded on January 12, 1895 by Octavia Hill (1838–1912), Sir Robert Hunter (1844–1913) and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley (1851–1920), prompted in part by the earlier success of Charles Eliot and the Kyrle Society. In the early days it was concerned primarily with protecting open spaces and a variety of threatened buildings; its first property was Alfriston Clergy House. The focus on country houses and gardens which now comprise the majority of its most visited properties came about in the mid 20th century when it was realised that the private owners of many of these properties were no longer able to afford to maintain them. James Lees-Milne played a central role main phase of the Trust's country house acquisition programme.

Related Topics:
January 12 - 1895 - Octavia Hill - 1838 - 1912 - Sir Robert Hunter - 1844 - 1913 - Hardwicke Rawnsley - 1851 - 1920 - Charles Eliot - Kyrle Society - Alfriston Clergy House - Country house - James Lees-Milne

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One of the biggest crises in the Trust's history erupted at the 1967 Annual general meeting, when the leadership of the trust was accused of being out of touch and placing too much emphasis on conserving country houses. In response, the Council asked Sir Henry Benson to chair an Advisory Committee to review the structure of the trust. Following the publication of the Benson Report in 1968 much of the administration of the trust was devolved to the regions. Membership was 226,200 when the Trust celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1970. By 1975 it was 500,000; the one million mark was reached in 1981 and two million in 1990.

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In 1990s a dispute over whether stag hunting should be permitted on National Trust land caused bitter disputes within the organisation, but it did little to slow down the growth in member numbers, which have has consistently surpassed expectations. In 2005 the number of members reached 3.4 million. In the same year the trust moved to a new head office in Swindon. The building was constructed on an abandoned railway yard, and is intended as a model of brownfield renewal. It is named Heelis, for the writer Beatrix Potter, who was one of the National Trust's most important benefactors and whose married name was Mrs Heelis. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trust/w-thecharity/w-news-projects-central_office.htm

Related Topics:
Stag hunt - Swindon - Brownfield - Beatrix Potter

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