National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known simply as the National Trust, is an independent charity and membership organisation for environmental and heritage conservation in the United Kingdom.

National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
AbbreviationNational Trust
MottoFor everyone, for ever
Formation1895
Legal statusTrust
PurposeTo look after Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty permanently for the benefit of the nation across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
HeadquartersHeelis, Swindon, Wiltshire, England
Location
  • United Kingdom
Region served
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Membership
5.6 million (2019)
Key people
H.R.H. The Prince of Wales
(President)
Hilary McGrady
(Director-General)
Tim Parker
(Chairman)
Main organ
Board of trustees
Revenue
£494 million (2014–15)
Staff
12,000[1]
Volunteers
61,000[1]
Websitewww.nationaltrust.org.uk

The trust describes itself as "a charity that works to preserve and protect historic places and spaces—for ever, for everyone".[2] The trust was founded in 1895 and given statutory powers, starting with the National Trust Act 1907. Historically, the Trust acquired land by gift and sometimes by public subscription and appeal, but after World War II the loss of English country houses resulted in many such properties being acquired either by gift from the former owners, or through the National Land Fund, later the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the National Lottery. Country Houses and Estates still make up a significant part of its holdings, but it is also known for its protection of wild landscapes such as in the Lake District and Peak District, historic urban properties, and nature reserves such as Wicken Fen. In Scotland, there is a separate and independent National Trust for Scotland.

The National Trust has a unique special power to prevent its inalienable land being sold off, although this can be over-ridden by Parliamentary procedure.[3]

The National Trust has been the beneficiary of many large donations and bequests. It owns over 500 heritage properties, which include many historic houses and gardens, industrial monuments, and social history sites.[1] Most of these are open to the public, usually for a charge. Others are leased to tenants on terms that manage to preserve their character whilst providing for more limited public access. The Trust is one of the largest private landowners in the United Kingdom, owning over 248,000 hectares (610,000 acres; 2,480 km2; 960 sq mi) of land.[1]

The Trust, one of the largest UK charities financially, is funded by membership subscriptions, entrance fees, legacies, and revenue from gift shops and restaurants within its properties. It has been accused of focusing too much on country estates, and in recent years, the Trust has sought to broaden its activities by acquiring historic properties such as former mills, early factories, workhouses, and the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon.[4]

In 2015, the Trust undertook a governance review to mark the 10th anniversary of the current governance structure.[5] The review led to the downsizing of the council and limitation of tenure to two terms.[6]

History

The National Trust was incorporated in 1895 as an "association not for profit" under the Companies Acts 1862–90, in which the liability of its members was limited by guarantee. It was later incorporated by six separate Acts of Parliament: The National Trust Acts 1907, 1919, 1937, 1939, 1953, and 1971.[7] It is also a charitable organisation registered under the Charities Act 2006.[8]

It was set up with the purpose of:

promoting the permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic interest and as regards lands for the preservation (so far as practicable) of their natural aspect features and animal and plant life.[7]

The trust was founded on 12 January 1895 by Octavia Hill (1838–1912), Sir Robert Hunter (1844–1913) and Hardwicke Rawnsley (1851–1920), prompted in part by the earlier success of Charles Eliot and the Kyrle Society.[9]

Wicken Fen, the National Trust's first nature reserve, acquired with help from Charles Rothschild in 1899

In the early days, the trust was concerned primarily with protecting open spaces and a variety of threatened buildings; its first property was Alfriston Clergy House, and a decorative cornice there may have given the trust its sprig of oak symbol. The trust's first nature reserve was Wicken Fen, and its first archaeological monument was White Barrow.

The trust has been the beneficiary of numerous donations of property and money. From 1924 to 1931, the trust's chairman was John Bailey, of whom The Times said in 1931, "The strong position which the National Trust now occupies is largely due to him, and it will perhaps never be known how many generous gifts of rural beauty and historic interest the nation owes, directly or indirectly, to his persuasive enthusiasm."[10] At the same time, a group of anonymous philanthropists set up the Ferguson's Gang; they wore masks and carried sacks of money, and their use of unusual pseudonyms such as Bill Stickers and Red Biddy caught the public's attention, bringing awareness to the increasing threat of urbanisation.[11]

The focus on country houses and gardens, which now comprise the majority of its most visited properties, came about in the mid 20th century when the private owners of many of the properties were no longer able to afford to maintain them. Many were donated to the trust in lieu of death duties. The diarist James Lees-Milne is usually credited with playing a central role in the main phase of the trust's country house acquisition programme, though he was in fact simply an employee of the trust, and was carrying through policies already decided by its governing body.[12]

One of the most visited National Trust properties is Stourhead, with its classic landscape garden.

Sir Jack Boles, Director General of the Trust between 1975 and 1983, oversaw the acquisition of Wimpole Hall, Cragside, Canons Ashby, Erddig, Kingston Lacy (a particularly notable asset as it comprises an art collection), Corfe Castle, Studland Bay, Badbury Rings and a host of commercial and domestic buildings and land.[13]

One of the biggest crises in the trust's history erupted at the 1967 annual general meeting, when the leadership of the trust was accused of being out of touch and placing too much emphasis on conserving country houses. There followed motions for change. The chair, Lord Antrim, asked the respected Len Clark (the YHA representative on the committee) to intervene, and Clark's suggestion of looking at the trust's governance avoided division and was followed by Sir Henry Benson's chairing of an advisory committee to review the structure of the trust. Following the publication of the Benson Report in 1968, much of the administration of the trust was devolved to the regions.[14]

In the 1990s, a dispute over whether deer hunting should be permitted on National Trust land caused bitter disputes within the organisation, and was the subject of much debate at annual general meetings, but it did little to slow the growth in its membership numbers.[15]

In 2005, the trust moved to a new head office in Swindon, Wiltshire. The building was constructed on an abandoned railway yard, and is intended as a model of brownfield renewal. It is named Heelis, taken from the married name of children's author Beatrix Potter, a huge supporter of, and donor to, the trust, which now owns the land she formerly owned in Cumbria.[16]

Governance
The Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the Trust's most popular site

The trust is an independent charity rather than a government institution. Historic England and its equivalents in other parts of the United Kingdom are government bodies that perform some functions which overlap with the work of the National Trust. At an operational level, the trust is organised into regions which are aligned with the official local government regions of the UK. Its headquarters are in Swindon.[17]

It was founded as a not-for-profit company in 1895 but was later re-incorporated by a private Act of Parliament, the National Trust Act 1907. Subsequent acts of Parliament between 1919 and 1978 amended and extended the trust's powers and remit. In 2005, the governance of the trust was substantially changed by the Charity Commission.[7]

The trust is governed by a twelve-strong board of trustees, appointed and overseen by a council of twenty-six people elected by the members of the trust, and twenty-six appointed by other organisations whose work is related to that of the trust, such as the Soil Association, the Royal Horticultural Society and the Council for British Archaeology.[18]

The members elect half of the council of the National Trust, and periodically (most recently, in 2006) vote on the organisations which may appoint the other half of the council.[19] Members may also propose and vote on motions at the annual general meeting.[20]

Funding
The National Trust's headquarters in Swindon

In 2017 the National Trust had 5.2 million members,[1] who enjoy free entry to open NT properties. For the year ended 28 February 2015, the trust's total income was £494 million, up from £460 million in 2013–14, making it one of the largest UK charities by income and assets. The largest sources of income were membership subscriptions (£161 million), direct property income (£145.1 million) and legacies (£50.5 million). In addition, the trust receives money from its commercial arm, National Trust Enterprises Ltd, which undertakes profit-making activities such as running gift shops and restaurants at NT properties. The organisation has cash and financial investments of £1.127 billion, a 7.5% increase on the previous year.[21]

Membership and volunteering

The trust is one of the largest membership organisations in the world, and annual subscriptions are its most important source of income. Membership numbers have grown from 226,200 when the trust celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1970 to 500,000 in 1975, 1 million in 1981, 2 million in 1990, and by 2015, membership had reached 4.24 million.[21] Members are entitled to free entry to trust properties that are open to the public for a charge.[22] There is a separate organisation called the Royal Oak Foundation for American supporters.[23]

The trust is heavily supported by volunteers, who, as of 2013, numbered approximately 70,000, contributing 3.77 million hours of work, worth an estimated £29.2 million.[24] Volunteering experiences are wide and varied, ranging from helping in its historic houses and gardens, to fund-raising and providing specialist skills.[25] The trust is a member of NCVYS in recognition of its work for the personal and social development of young people.[26]

National Trust properties

Historic houses and gardens
Barrington Court, one of the first two historic houses owned by the Trust.[12]

The trust owns 200 historic houses that are open to the public. The majority of them are country houses, and most of the others are associated with famous individuals. The majority of these country houses contain collections of pictures, furniture, books, metalwork, ceramics and textiles that have remained in their historic context. Most of the houses also have important gardens attached to them, and the trust owns some important gardens not attached to a house.

The trust acquired the majority of its country houses in the mid 20th century, when death duties were at their most punitive and many houses were being demolished. James Lees-Milne was secretary of the trust's Country House Committee in the key period either side of World War II. The arrangements made with families bequeathing their homes to the trust often allowed them to continue to live in the property.[12] Since the 1980s, the trust has been increasingly reluctant to take over large houses without substantial accompanying endowment funds, and its acquisitions in this category have been less frequent.[12]

In recent years, the trust has sought to broaden its activities and appeal, mainly by acquiring historic properties such as former mills (early factories), workhouses and the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon.[12]

Some properties have individual arrangements, so for example Wakehurst Place is managed by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and Waddesdon Manor by a private foundation; both are open to the public.[27]

Paintings and sculpture collection
The Rembrandt self-portrait at Buckland Abbey, painted 1635, formally attributed to him in March 2013

Since its founding in 1895, the trust has gradually expanded its collection of art, mostly through whole property acquisitions. Since 1956, there has been a Curator of Pictures and Sculpture.[28] The first was St John (Bobby) Gore, who was appointed "Adviser on Paintings" in 1956. He published catalogues of the pictures at Upton, Polesden Lacey, Buscot, Saltram, and Ascott.[29]

His successor in 1986 was Alastair Laing, who cared for the works of art at 120 properties and created the exhibition In Trust for the Nation, held at the National Gallery in 1995–96.[28] Since 2009, the curator has been David Taylor, who has approved photos of the trust's 12,567 oil paintings to be included in the Public Catalogue Foundation's searchable online archive of oil paintings, available since 2012.[30] The trust now has a collection of more than 13,000 oil paintings. Artists represented include Rembrandt (whose Self-portrait wearing a white feathered bonnet which is now displayed at Buckland Abbey near Yelverton in Devon was recently re-attributed to the artist), Hieronymous Bosch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Angelica Kauffmann, and Stanley Spencer.[31]

In 2009 the National Trust launched its contemporary art programme entitled "Trust New Art" with the idea of reaching new audiences who may not visit art galleries, museums or stately homes.[32] Through Trust New Art, which is supported by partnerships with Arts Council England and Arts Council of Wales, the National Trust has worked with over 200 artists to create new artworks inspired by their places including: Jeremy Deller, Jarvis Cocker, Bob and Roberta Smith, Serena Korda, Marcus Coates and Katie Paterson.[33]

Coastline and countryside
Cliffs and Worm's Head at Rhossili

The National Trust is the largest private landowner in the United Kingdom.[34] The trust's land holdings account for more than 610,000 acres (250,000 ha), or 985 square miles (2,550 km2), mostly of countryside, and covering nearly 1.5% of the total land mass of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.[35] A large part of this consists of parks and agricultural estates attached to country houses, but there are many countryside properties which were acquired specifically for their scenic or scientific value. The trust owns or has covenant over about a quarter of the Lake District;[34] it has similar control over about 12% of the Peak District National Park (e.g. South Peak Estate and High Peak Estate).[34] It owns or protects roughly one fifth of the coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (780 miles (1,260 km)),[1] and has a long-term campaign, Project Neptune, which seeks to acquire more.[35]

Protection of National Trust property

The National Trust Acts grant the trust the unique statutory power to declare land inalienable. This prevents the land from being sold or mortgaged against the trust's wishes without special parliamentary procedure. The inalienability of trust land was over-ridden by Parliament in the case of proposals to construct a section of the Plympton bypass through the park at Saltram, on the grounds that the road proposal had been known about before the park at Saltram was declared inalienable.[36]

The Acts also give the trust the power to make bylaws to regulate the activities of people when on its land. All photography at National Trust properties, other than that for private and personal use or for entry into approved competitions, is strictly prohibited,[37][38] except for social networking sites such as Flickr.[39] Visitors are instead directed to request images from the National Trust Photo Library.[40]

In 2017, the National Trust was criticised by members for supporting the government's intention to build a 1.8-mile long tunnel under the Stonehenge World Heritage Site as part of the plans to upgrade the A303 road. The trust was accused of prioritising government criteria like cost effectiveness and deliverability over cultural heritage and environmental preservation.[41]

Most visited properties
Cliveden, the fourth most visited National Trust property for which an admission charge is made as of 2019

The 2018–19 annual report lists the National Trust properties for which an admission charge is made that attracted more than 50,000 visitors. The 10 most visited properties are:[1]

No. Property Location Visitors
1Giant's CausewayCounty Antrim 738,508
2Clumber ParkNottinghamshire 677,136
3Attingham ParkShropshire 511,687
4ClivedenBuckinghamshire 499,043
5Carrick-a-Rede Rope BridgeCounty Antrim 497,623
6Waddesdon ManorBuckinghamshire 471,886
7Belton HouseLincolnshire 444,697
8Fountains Abbey EstateNorth Yorkshire 403,591
9StourheadWiltshire 400,186
10Calke AbbeyDerbyshire 398,837

See also
  • List of National Trust properties in England
  • List of National Trust properties in Wales
  • List of National Trust properties in Northern Ireland
  • An Taisce (Republic of Ireland)
  • English Heritage
  • Historic Houses Association
  • Landmark Trust
  • National Trust (typeface)
  • The Preservation of Places of Interest or Beauty

References
  1. "National Trust Annual Report 2017–18" (PDF). National Trust. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  2. "What we do". National Trust. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  3. "Acquisition of Land Act 1981 c. 67 Schedule 3 Part II 5 1-3". Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  4. "Beatles Childhood Homes, National Trust". Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. "Governance review". National Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  6. "National Trust to review governance structure". www.civilsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  7. "The National Trust Acts 1907–71" (PDF). National Trust. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  8. "The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty". Charity Commission. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  9. Whelan, Robert (April 2009). "Octavia Hill and the environmental movement" (PDF). Civitas Review. 6 (1): 1–8. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  10. "Mr John Bailey – The English Heritage", The Times, 30 June 1931, p. 16
  11. Polly Bagnall & Sally Beck (2015). Ferguson's Gang: The Remarkable Story of the National Trust Gangsters. Pavilion Books. ISBN 978-1909881716.
  12. David Cannadine (May 2004). In Churchill's Shadow: Confronting the Past in Modern Britain. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-517156-3.
  13. "Sir Jack Boles". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  14. Ashbrook, Kate (11 October 2019). "Len Clark obituary". The Guardian.
  15. "National Trust AGM 2017" (PDF). National Trust. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  16. "Heelis". National Trust. Archived from the original on 28 May 2011.
  17. "Former chief at Swindon-based National Trust recognised in New Year's honours". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 11 January 2019
  18. "Council members". National Trust. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012.
  19. "Our Council". National Trust. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  20. "The Charities (National Trust) Order 2005" (PDF). National Trust. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  21. "National Trust Annual Report 2014–15" (PDF). National Trust. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015.
  22. "Membership". National Trust. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  23. "FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions". The Royal Oak Foundation. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  24. "National Trust Annual Report 2012–13" (PDF). National Trust. 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  25. "Volunteering". National Trust. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  26. "Our Members". NCVYS. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  27. 2014–2015 Annual Report, p. 71 Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  28. de Vries, Annette. "An interview with Alastair Laing, retired Curator of Pictures and Sculpture at the National Trust, interviewed by Annette de Vries". Codart eZine. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  29. "Obituary of St John Gore". The Telegraph. 13 May 2010.
  30. "Paintings held by National Trust". Art UK.
  31. "Great masterpieces in our collections". National Trust. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  32. "Trust new Art: National Trust unveils its ambitious contemporary art programme | Culture24". www.culture24.org.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  33. "Trust New Art exhibitions and events". National Trust. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  34. Ian D. Whyte (15 June 2013). A Dictionary of Environmental History. I.B.Tauris. p. 346. ISBN 978-1-84511-462-6.
  35. "Coast & Countryside". National Trust. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  36. "History of the National Trust: 1967–94". National Trust. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011.
  37. "National Trust Images". National Trust. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  38. Roy Nikon (15 May 2009). "National Trust Photography Persecution". Wild About Britain. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  39. Chris Cheesman (20 May 2009). "National Trust: Photographers free to post on Flickr". Amateur Photographer. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  40. "National Trust Images". National Trust. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  41. Ward, Victoria; Bevan, Stephen (4 September 2017). "National Trust faces member rebellion over backing of Stonehenge tunnel". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
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