1913.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER I | |
| PAGE | |
|---|---|
| PARENTAGE AND CHILDHOOD | [1] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| EARLY WORK IN LONDON. 1851—APRIL, 1856 | [13] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| WORKING WOMEN’S CLASSES AND ART TRAINING. 1856–1858 | [80] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| MILTON STREET, DORSET SQUARE. DECEMBER, 1858—APRIL, 1861 | [127] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| NOTTINGHAM PLACE SCHOOL. BEGINNING OF HOUSING WORK. 1860–1870 | [188] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| 1870–1875. GROWING PUBLICITY OF OCTAVIA’S WORK | [256] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| 1875–1878. THE OPEN SPACE MOVEMENT | [315] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| 1878–1881. FOREIGN TRAVELS. MANAGEMENT OF HER WORK AT HOME | [354] |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| 1881–1889. APPOINTMENT BY THE ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS | [440] |
| CHAPTER X | |
| FURTHER PROGRESS IN HOUSING AND OPEN SPACE WORK. 1890–1902 | [505] |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| LAST YEARS OF LIFE. 1902–1912 | [548] |
| CONCLUSION | [580] |
| INDEX | [585] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| FACING PAGE | |
|---|---|
| Octavia Hill. From a Photograph, enlarged by an American artist | [Frontispiece] |
| Wisbeach in 1840. House on right side of bridge where Octavia was born, December 3rd, 1838 | [3] |
| James Hill. Father of Octavia Hill | [9] |
| Octavia Hill as a Child. From an Oil Painting by Margaret Gillies | [13] |
| Dr. Southwood Smith. Grandfather of Octavia Hill. From a Chalk Drawing by Margaret Gillies | [172] |
| Caroline Southwood Hill. Octavia’s Mother. From a Photograph by Andrew Whelpdale | [326] |
| Miranda Hill. From a Photograph by Maull and Fox | [340] |
| Octavia Hill. From a Drawing by Edward Clifford, 1877 | [357] |
| Southwark. Red Cross Cottages and Garden. Opened June, 1887 | [454] |
| Octavia Hill. From an Oil Painting by Sargent. Presented to her in 1898 | [506] |
LIFE OF OCTAVIA HILL
CHAPTER I
PARENTAGE AND CHILDHOOD
Early in the nineteenth century Mr. James Hill was carrying on in Peterborough a business as corn merchant which his father had made very successful, and to which was added a banking business. Later on he removed to Wisbeach with his brother Thomas. James Hill showed much of his father’s business capacity, though sometimes carried away by an oversanguine temperament. Both his ability and his hopefulness were to be put to a severe test, when in 1825 England suffered from a general banking panic, and Mr. Hill failed in company with other bankers of greater note. But he roused himself to meet the emergency, and to a great extent retrieved his fortunes, for a time.
His troubles, however, were increased in 1832 by the loss of his second wife; and, as a widower with six children, he found himself in an anxious and difficult position. He had always been a very affectionate husband and father; and he was most desirous to find some one who would help him in the care of his children. While thinking over this problem, his attention was attracted by some articles on education, which had lately appeared in The Monthly Repository; with these articles he was so much impressed that he obtained from the Editor the name and address of the writer. She proved to be Miss Caroline Southwood Smith, the daughter of Dr. Southwood Smith, the celebrated Sanitary Reformer.
Mr. Hill called on the writer at Wimbledon, and found that she was already engaged in teaching in a private family. When that engagement had ended, Mr. Hill persuaded Miss Smith to undertake the teaching of his children. How heartily they responded to her care will be shown by two letters given later on: and when, in 1835, she became the wife of Mr. Hill, she received a welcome from her step-children such as few step-mothers can have experienced. The marriage took place at St. Botolph’s, Bishopsgate.