Octavia Hill Lecture

Professor Mary Beard stood behind a podium giving a talk — Professor Mary Beard at the Octavia Hill Lecture in 2024 at The Royal Society, London | © National Trust Images/ Megan Taylor

The annual Octavia Hill Lecture is an opportunity for respected voices and commentators to lead us in reflecting on nature, beauty and history. This year’s lecture was with guest speaker Professor Mary Beard. After the lecture, Professor Beard held a conversation with Gus Casely-Hayford.

What are the Octavia Hill Lectures?

Octavia Hill Lectures were created to allow time and space to reflect on our impact as a charity in the modern day.

They're named after one of our three co-founders and allow us to explore our shared past and place in the world today. These lectures are an opportunity to connect with leading thinkers and public audiences through meaningful discussions.

A respected voice or commentator delivers the lecture, reflecting on nature, beauty and history through the lens of the places and objects in our care. We invite guest speakers to propose topics that they feel are relevant to their experience and perspective.

Watch the 2024 lecture

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Video

Who owns the past? By Professor Mary Beard

Watch the Octavia Hill Lecture in collaboration with Times Radio. Join guest speaker Professor Mary Beard (classicist, historian, author and broadcaster) as she examines what the past is for, how we can learn from and challenge it, and how we can bring it alive. Throughout her lecture, Professor Beard considers the issues of authenticity and ownership.

Trust houses should be exciting, even dangerous, places where we can all confront not just the past, but also ourselves.

A quote by Professor Mary Beard Historian and classicist

In conversation with Gus Casley-Hayford

After the lecture, Professor Beard was in conversation with Gus Casley-Hayford, Director of V&A East. Following their talk, they opened the floor to the audience who had the opportunity to ask questions. Details on how to watch Professor Beard and Gus Casley-Hayford's conversation will be available soon.

Fedden R., The Continuing Purpose: A History of the National Trust, its Aims and Work

Gaze, John and Clark, Len, Figures in a Landscape: History of the National Trust

Jenkins, Jennifer and James, Patrick, From Acorn to Oak Tree: Growth of the National Trust, 1895–1994

Newby, Howard (ed), The National Trust: the next hundred years

Waterson, Merlin, The National Trust: The First Hundred Years

Weidegger, Paula, Gilding the Acorn: Behind the Facade of the National Trust
Baigent, Elizabeth and Clarke, Ben (eds), Octavia Hill, social activism and the remaking of British society

Bagnall, Polly and Beck, Sally, Ferguson's Gang: The Remarkable Story of the National Trust Gangsters

Barczewski, Stephanie, Country Houses and the British Empire, 1700–1930

C. R. Ashbee and the Guild of Handicraft (Cheltenham Art Gallery)

Darley, Gillian, Octavia Hill: a life

Hall, Melanie, ‘The Politics of Collecting: the early aspirations of the National Trust, 1883–1913’, Transactions of the Royal Historical Society 13 (2003), 345–57

Hutton-North, Anna, Ferguson's Gang - The Maidens behind the Masks

Mandler, Peter, The Fall and Rise of the Stately Home

Tinniswood, Adrian, A History of Country House Visiting

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Wright, Patrick, On Living in an Old County

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