Our Common Land

Octavia Hill (1838–1912) was an English social reformer who campaigned for the improvement of housing and access to public spaces. In this capacity she is widely credited with a leading role in preventing Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill Fields from being built on. Along with Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley, in 1895 she cofounded the National Trust, which sought to preserve historically important or beautiful lands and buildings for the benefit of the nation.

'There are few who have so good a right to be heard… as the author of this volume. She has not only thought long and deeply on the problem to be solved, but has worked nobly to aid in its solution… There is not a word of mere sentimentalism in any one of her papers; she is clear, practical and definite.'