Hill, Octavia, << ok TAY vee uh >> (1838-1912), was a British housing reformer. She believed that housing conditions could be improved only if those living in poorer homes were helped to appreciate finer things. She served on the Central Council of the Charity Organisation Society and the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws. Hill emphasized personal relationships, businesslike practices, and self-help. A believer in beauty and recreation, she did much to establish and preserve London’s “green belt” of parks and playgrounds.
Hill was born on Dec. 3, 1838, in Wisbech, England. She was equally interested in painting and social work when young. At the age of 14, she managed a workshop for poor girls, but it was through her painting that she became a pupil of the famous art critic, John Ruskin. Ruskin bought some slum property in 1864, and he put her in charge. Hill improved the property and gave the tenants cultural advantages. In time, she managed property for over 3,000 people. Hill died in London on Aug. 13, 1912.
