This is a recording of a talk called 'Octavia Hill, John Ruskin, & Victorian Society', by William Whyte which was recorded on 5th March 2025
This talk is part of the Online Winter Lecture Series 2025 called Victorian and Edwardian Women in Architecture. Follow this link to book all of the lectures.
Organised by Lynne Walker
The spring lecture series provides the opportunity to engage with recent, path-breaking research by leading experts which gives a fresh perspective on women’s diverse roles in nineteenth and early twentieth century architecture as designers, patrons, clients, philanthropists, and businesswomen, as well as their emergence as professional architects by 1900. In the broad context of Victorian society, this series considers themes and issues which both facilitated and limited women’s agency and contribution in a male-dominated world, most notably, family, social and political networks, widowhood and wealth.
‘Hang drawing!! I must go and help people’: Octavia Hill, John Ruskin, and Victorian society,
by William Whyte
Best remembered now as one of the founders of the National Trust, Octavia Hill (1838–1912) devoted her life to improving the housing and living conditions of the urban poor. As William Whyte explains, her approach to social work was not just generally but very particularly shaped by her understanding of art and architecture, which can be traced back to her early years as a protégé of Ruskin.
Professor of Social and Architectural History at the University of Oxford since 2014, William Whyte is a historian specialising in the architecture of British churches, schools and universities. He contributed two chapters on Hill’s involvement with art and architecture to Octavia Hill, Social Activism and the Remaking of British Society, edited by Elizabeth Baigent and Ben Cowell (2016).
After booking a ticket, you will be given access to the recording of the event. Please ignore the event date in the listings.
This event helps raise funds for The Victorian Society - the only charity dedicated to fighting for our Victorian and Edwardian heritage. Join us today and safeguard our unique cultural heritage for future generations! For further information, click here.
The Victorian Society is an IHBC recognised CPD provider.
Image: Redcross Cottages, Southwark. Photo by Stephen Craven. CC
