People in history

Discover some of the social history behind our places and uncover fascinating facts about the people who have lived in them

Visitors looking up at Lanscroon's ceiling painting in the Blue Drawing Room at Powis Castle and Garden, Powys.
Kirsty Wark stands in front of a suffragette statue

Our women's suffrage podcast series presented by Kirsty Wark 

In this five-part series we lift the lid on our archives to uncover the seldom-told stories of maids, mill-workers, politicians and even royalty, who fought and campaigned to help shape the world we live in today.

Listen to episode one

Stories from our places

Beatrix Potter at Keswick show

Remarkable women from our places 

Delve back into the past to discover the remarkable women who helped shape our places. Meet the political player who helped restore the monarchy, beloved children's authors and an acclaimed archaeologist.

Self-portrait Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Bru

The great women artists in our collections 

For centuries, women seeking careers in the fine arts were restricted in their opportunities to receive an artistic education. Despite obstacles, women have long defied conventions to pursue careers as artists. Discover some of the most successful female artists in our collections and examples of their work at our places.

Ferguson's Gang members Shot Biddy, Kate O’Brien and Bill Stickers enjoying a picnic, 1935

Who were Ferguson's Gang? 

Ferguson’s Gang was formed in 1927 with five core members, all of whom were women. Their aim was to raise awareness of the need to protect rural areas and they supported the organisation they considered to be the most dedicated to preserving England’s heritage: the National Trust.

Archive photo of people gathered on Great Gable Summit in 1923

A Great Gift in the Lake District 

2018 marks 100 years since the end of the First World War. In the years that followed, three very special gifts were made to the National Trust to look after on behalf of the nation.

Visitors and a dog in the garden at Greenway

Walk in famous footsteps 

From pop-culture icons and authors to seafarers and scientists, take a walk in famous footsteps and get closer to the people who have shaped history.

Step back in time
Edith Lady Londonderry in the gardens at Mount Stewart

How Victorian plant hunters shaped our gardens 

Find out more about the men and women who traveled the world in search of beautiful plants and brought them back to our gardens.

In search of rare plants
Lady Jane Grey in her VAD nurses uniform at Stamford Military Hospital (Dunham Massey), Cheshire

Women’s stories from the First World War 

We look after many places with connections to the First World War. Discover stories from the women who played a vital role in the war.

Discover women's war stories
A portrait of Humphry Repton

Humphry Repton: the first landscape gardener 

Repton, the original landscape gardener, brought his unique design style to the gardens and parks at more than 20 of our places. As a skilled water colour painter, each commission was accompanied by one of his ingenious 'red books' to illustrate his proposal.

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