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Octavia Hill Lecture
The annual Octavia Hill Lecture is an opportunity for guest historians and cultural commentators to lead us in reflecting on our national history and culture. Watch the inaugural lecture with guest speaker Neil MacGregor and panel discussion chaired by Times Radio’s Aasmah Mir.
The new Octavia Hill Lecture series is named after one of our three co-founders and is an opportunity to explore our shared past and place in the world today. Each annual lecture will be delivered by a guest historian or cultural commentator, who'll reflect on national history and culture through the lens of the places and objects in our care.
The first Octavia Hill Lecture, in collaboration with Times Radio, was recorded on 2 February 2023 at The Royal Society, London, and our guest speaker Neil MacGregor is a writer, broadcaster, historian and former director of the British Museum and National Gallery. He explores how human history is represented through the objects we care for, and how our interpretation of the past can help us shape the future.
The lecture is followed by a panel discussion chaired by Times Radio presenter Aasmah Mir. The panellists joining Neil MacGregor include founder and creative director of History Hit and broadcaster Dan Snow, Times journalist and best-selling author Sathnam Sanghera, and historian, author and broadcaster Professor Suzannah Lipscomb.
The link between how we see the past and how we want to shape the future seems more urgent and obvious now than before.
A quote by Neil MacGregor Excerpt from National Trust Magazine autumn 2022 issue
Watch the lecture and panel discussion
Video
Octavia Hill Lecture 2023
Watch the inaugural Octavia Hill Lecture in collaboration with Times Radio. Join guest speaker Neil MacGregor (writer, broadcaster, historian and former director of the British Museum and National Gallery) as he reflects on our national history and culture through the lens of places and objects in the care of the National Trust.
Video
Times Radio panel discussion and Q&A
Explore the topics covered in the lecture with Times Radio presenter Aasmah Mir as she chairs the panel discussion and Q&A with the audience. The panellists joining Neil MacGregor include historian and television presenter Dan Snow MBE, Times journalist and best-selling author Sathnam Sanghera, and historian, author and broadcaster Professor Suzannah Lipscomb.
Our partners
We’re working in collaboration with Times Radio to bring history to everyone. Times Radio provides intelligent and thought-provoking live coverage of news, politics and culture. Together, we’ll debate and explore the shared past and our place in the world today.
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