It was Ruskin also who advised Miss Hill that if she could place the work upon a business footing, paying 5 per cent. upon capital invested in it, it would be taken up and extended by other people. This advice proved to be fully justified, and her successful management led to a steadily increasing number of houses being placed under her charge. Not only did owners of house property turn to her for help, but many who came to know and believe in her work placed large sums of money in her hands for the purchase or building of houses for the very poor. So freely was this assistance forthcoming that in 1899 she was able to write: ‘There has never been a time when the extension of our work has been delayed for want of money. We have always had ample at our disposal.’ Perhaps the most important accession to her responsibilities was her appointment in 1884 by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to manage a great part of their property in Southwark. Subsequently the Commissioners placed much other property in her hands as leases fell in, and frequently sought her advice in such matters as rebuilding.
Meanwhile the increase of work and responsibility left little time for teaching or for art, and in 1874 a group of friends raised a fund which freed Miss Hill for the future from the necessity of earning money, and left her at liberty to devote herself to housing reform. But, even with this assistance, the burden upon her was so great that more than once her health gave way and she was compelled to take a complete holiday. Especially was this so in 1877, when she was taken for a prolonged tour on the Continent by her friend, Miss Yorke, who from this time was closely associated with her life and work. Her long absence from England made necessary the devolution of responsibility upon the many workers whom she had trained in her methods, more especially upon her sisters. But it was characteristic of her method and temper throughout that she always endeavoured to develop responsibility and initiative in those who assisted her. There is no doubt that the rapid extension of the work was largely due to this spirit of true co-operation. Persons desiring to be trained under Miss Hill were attracted from far and near; with the result that her system of house management was introduced into other towns not only in Great Britain and Ireland, but also in America and on the continent of Europe, as for instance, in the ‘Octavia Hill-Verein’ in Berlin.
Octavia Hill's influence, though centred in housing reform, was far from being limited to it. Few efforts which were wisely directed towards the raising of the very poor failed to attract her interest. She was an active supporter of the work of the Charity Organization Society from its first beginnings, and frequently spoke and wrote on behalf of its principles. But perhaps her warmest sympathies were reserved for all efforts towards preserving and securing open spaces for the use of the people. She was closely associated with the Kyrle Society (founded by her sister Miranda in 1877), was a member of the Commons Preservation Society, and, in conjunction with Canon H. D. Rawnsley and Sir Robert Hunter [q.v.], founded the National Trust for places of historic interest or natural beauty (1895). It was largely due to her efforts that Parliament Hill and many other large and small open spaces were secured for public use and enjoyment.
Again, Octavia Hill's help and advice were often sought in connexion with the promotion of social reform by legislation. But her faith lay much more in the value of voluntary work, and it was with reluctance that she took part in political measures. It was an exception to this when, in 1873, she co-operated with the Charity Organization Society in active propaganda which resulted in Mr. (afterwards Viscount) Cross's Artisans' Dwellings Act (1875). But she refused to join the royal commission on housing (1889), and though she was induced to become a member of the royal commission on the poor laws (1905), she had little expectation of useful results. Nevertheless she threw herself loyally into the arduous work, and was remarkable for the steadiness and wisdom with which she maintained her principles. She also gave valuable evidence before the royal commission on the aged poor (1893).
No account of Octavia Hill would be complete without reference to the constant co-operation and assistance of her sisters. Of these, Miranda, who lived with her, died in 1910, and Octavia did not long survive her. She died in her house, 190 Marylebone Road, 13 August 1912, having made very complete arrangements for her work to be carried on. She was buried, according to her own instructions, at Crockham Hill, Kent, a memorial service being held in Southwark Cathedral.
In order to estimate the value of Octavia Hill's achievement it is necessary to recall something of the conditions which she sought to improve, and of the methods which she employed. Writing
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