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Overhead view of an octagonal table with the figure of Silenus, a drunken follower of Bacchu, in The Library at Claydon House in Buckinghamshire
Overhead view of an octagonal table in The Library at Claydon House, Buckinghamshire | © National Trust Images/John Hammond

History

Find out more about people from the past, discover remarkable art and collections and brush up on your knowledge of architecture and gardens. 

History highlights

Professor Mary Beard stood behind a podium giving a talk
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Octavia Hill Lecture 

The annual Octavia Hill Lecture is an opportunity for respected voices and commentators to lead us in reflecting on nature, beauty and history. Watch the 2024 lecture with guest speaker Professor Mary Beard. After the lecture, Professor Beard was in conversation with Gus Casely-Hayford.

The showcase in the Treasure Room at Hill Top, Sawrey, Cumbria, the home of Beatrix Potter
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History podcasts playlist 

Be transported through time with our history podcast playlist. From the origins of drag performance to the boys who became the Beatles, discover stories from across the ages.

An ornate teapot set on a low table with a plate of scones behind
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The history of tea 

Tea first arrived in Britain in the mid-17th century, when it was so expensive that only the incredibly wealthy could afford it. Find out the connections that the places in our care have to this simple brew.

Art and collections

Delve into one of the world's greatest collections of art and historical objects. From paintings to sculptures, there’s something for every art lover to discover.

A cardboard Easter egg in the collection at Lanhydrock, covered in paper depicting lots of rabbits at a wedding
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The story of Easter in our collections 

Take a closer look at some of the Easter objects in our collections. From a religious holy day to a time for family traditions, discover the origins of Easter and the symbolic egg.

NARCISSUS 'THE INCOMPARABLE DAFFODIL' by Georg Ehret, 1753. Botanical illustration situated in Gallery IV (the Botanical Gallery) at Dudmaston, Shropshire.
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Spring scenes in our collections 

Spring's promise of new beginnings has been an inspiration to artists and designers for centuries. Discover spring through some of its most evocative depictions in the collections and objects we care for.

People

Read the stories of people from history and learn about their connections to the historic places in our care, from Beatrix Potter to the Beatles.

The Daisy Room at Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
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Who was William Morris? 

To mark William Morris's birthday on 24 March, learn how he founded the Arts and Crafts movement and brought the natural world indoors with his instantly recognisable wallpapers and textiles.

Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick' by Rowland Lockey. Hanging in the Long Gallery at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
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Remarkable women in history 

This Women's History Month, learn about remarkable women in history linked to the places in our care, from the first black woman to publish her story of slavery to the circus performer who became a countess.

A white teapot on a stand with other china ware in the background at 575 Wandsworth Road
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Black histories and the National Trust 

Discover the places and collections we care for that have connections to black histories. Learn more about the people behind these connections, including the lady of the house at Dyrham Park and a Kenyan-born poet, novelist and civil servant at 575 Wandsworth Road.

Architecture

Read up on architecture with in-depth articles about architectural styles, interior design through history and architectural structures.

A round two-storey building set with a conical roof is set into a wall, made of the same greyish stone. There's a stairway within the wall to the left of the building and behind it is a pink flowering cherry tree. It's a bright, sunny spring day and the sky is blue.
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What is a Dovecote? 

Dovecotes were built by wealthy and aristocratic families from the Norman period onwards and doves were kept for both food, feathers and as status symbols.

Gardener cleaning the roof from a cherrypicker at Knightshayes, Devon
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Top tips for maintaining your own ‘manor’ 

Find out from our team of building surveyors how you can keep your own ‘stately home’ maintained to a National Trust standard this year

Exterior of Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
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The history of architecture 

Learn how both social and technological change have influenced architecture throughout history, and find out where to see examples of each period at the places we look after.

Gardens and landscapes

Discover the history of the natural landscapes around you. From glasshouses to sunken lanes, understand more about how these gardens and green spaces were formed.

Daffodils dappled in sunlight next to a red brick wall
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The history of daffodils 

Discover the history behind the daffodil, including how it came to be one of the UK's favourite flowers, where it came from and how to classify its many varieties.

Interior of a greenhouse with pelargoniums, succulents and other plants potted on a bench, and other larger houseplants on the floor
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A potted history of houseplants 

Wander through our collections and gardens to learn the high-society origins of the ferns, orchids and pelargoniums in your home.

A lake at dawn or dusk with a grand house reflected in it, surrounded by tall green reeds and trees
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How to spot a ‘Capability’ Brown landscape 

Brown designed landscapes that fitted in seamlessly with the surrounding countryside. So how do you spot the designs of one of the greatest gardeners of all time?

The Palladian Bridge at Stowe, Buckinghamshire, spanning the Octagon Lake which is created to look like a river. The arches of the bridge are reflected in the water with a backdrop of green trees. It is one of only four Palladian Bridges in the world and the only one which allowed a carriage to be driven over.
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The development of the English garden landscape 

The history of the English landscape garden is infused with political meaning. Learn the history and political stories behind this garden style characterised by structured informality.

A visitor and a room guide looking at an object inside an elaborate glass case in the Clive museum at Powis Castle

Start your journey of discovery

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