This Day In History

On this day in 1895 the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty (‘National Trust’), a conservation society, was founded in the United Kingdom. It operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland has their own National Trust). They own many historic houses and gardens, industrial monuments and social history sites. It is one of the largest landowners in the UK, most of its properties being open to the public free of charge. It is the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom, and one of the largest UK charities.

The Trust was founded on 12th January 1894 by Octavia Hill (1838–1912), Robert Hunter (1844–1913) and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley (1851–1920). They were originally concerned with protecting open spaces and a variety of threatened buildings. Its first property was Alfriston Clergy House in East Sussex, purchased in 1896 for £10. Its first nature reserve was Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire in 1899. Its first archaeological monument was White Barrow in Wiltshire, a Neolithic long barrow (an earthmound considered a collective tomb), in 1909 for £60.

The National Trust continues to operate today to preserve Britain’s past, and its sites attract thousands of visitors. Its sites include Sutton Hoo (two 6th and early 7th century cemeteries in Suffolk), Thomas Hardy’s Cottage in Dorset, St. Michael’s Mount off the coast of Cornwall, and 251 Menlove Avenue & 20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool (the childhood homes and Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney respectively)