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Scotney Castle in spring
Springtime at Scotney Castle, Kent | © David Sellman

History

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

Seasonal highlights

History of summer solstice traditions 

Learn the ancient origins, traditions and folklore of the summer solstice and discover how midsummer was celebrated in millennia past at some of the places we care for.

Summer sunrise at White Sheet Hill, Stourhead, Wiltshire

Why were some medieval villages deserted? 

In England, several sites of lost medieval villages can be found at National Trust places. Learn more about these abandoned villages.

Looking towards the sea, over the heather-covered ground at Dunwich Heath, Suffolk.

How has the English landscape garden developed? 

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.

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.

Unearthing Britain's history: archaeology through the eras 

Uncover the different eras of British history through the archaeological artefacts and sites in our care. From stone circles in the Prehistoric Era to military remains of the 20th century, learn more about our ancestors and Britain's past.

Aerial view of earthworks in the landscape at Whitesheet Hill, Wiltshire

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.

More art and collections

The stories behind the works of Beatrix Potter 

Explore the stories behind the illustrations, sketches and letters of this legendary author, preserved by the National Trust at her former home in the Lake District.

A notepad with a watercolour painting by Beatrix Potter being held up to the camera

The art of illusion in historic houses 

Learn about some of the misleading objects, paintings and architectural features in the historic houses we look after, and discover the truth behind these optical illusions.

A detailed trompe l'oeil painting of statues of the four Doctors of the Church on the north wall of the Chapel at Wimpole Hall

See great masterpieces in National Trust collections 

Masterpieces by Velázquez, Rembrandt, Hieronymus Bosch and El Greco can be seen in the collections at the properties in our care across the UK.

A painting of a young man casually lying on the ground in a green woodland glade. He wears ornate blue and white Elizabethan-style trousers and bodice and he has a dark brown beard and moustache. Behind him, in another woodland glade, there are two horses and another figure.

Country house communication through the ages 

Learn how innovations in country house communication technology, from sprung bells to early telephones, transformed the ways servants could be called upon.

Servants bells, above the door to the study, for Lord Grey's room and dressing rooms at Dunham Massey

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.

More historical people

Remarkable women in history 

Learn about the remarkable women in history linked to the places in our care, from the political player who helped make Charles II king, to the archaeologist who discovered a 7th-century Saxon ship burial.

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

Who was William Morris? 

Learn how William Morris, founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, brought the natural world indoors with his wallpapers and textiles, which are still instantly recognisable today.

The Daisy Room at Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Beatrix Potter 

Discover how Beatrix Potter’s Victorian upbringing and fascination with animals culminated in a successful career as an author and illustrator and a passion for conservation.

Visitors looking at a copy of Two Bad Mice at Hill Top, near Sawrey, Lake District

Architecture

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

More architecture

What is Palladianism? 

Learn how Palladianism combined classically symmetrical exteriors with lavish interiors and went on to gain huge popularity with renowned architects in England in the 18th century.

Visitors on the Palladian Bridge at Prior Park, Bath

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.

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.

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.

Gardener cleaning the roof from a cherrypicker at Knightshayes, Devon

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.

More gardens and landscapes

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.

Daffodils dappled in sunlight next to a red brick wall

History of glasshouses, orangeries and garden sheds 

Discover the evolution in garden buildings, from exclusive hothouses for rare new finds to the cornerstones of every garden today.

Sunny view of a glasshouse with flowering plants on either side

What was the open space movement? 

Open space campaigners sought to preserve countryside for recreation. Discover the history of the movement and how it inspired our work.

Castlerigg Stone Circle in winter, Borrowdale, Cumbria. Surrounded by the fells of Skiddaw and Blencathra to its north and Castlerigg Fell, High Rigg and Clough Head to its south, this ring of 38 stones, set within a ring of mountains, has stood at Castlerigg for about 4,500 years since it was created by Neolithic farming communities.
A child bending down to inspect plants with a magnifying glass at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire

Start your journey of discovery

Delve into history, get tips from our experts, learn a new skill and go behind the scenes of your favourite places.

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