Conclusion
For more than a year before her death, Octavia had suffered from breathlessness, and at Easter of 1912, she became aware that her illness was serious. She at once began to plan the devolution of her work. She wrote to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and to five other owners of house property, to ask if they would appoint certain of her trained workers to take over the direct management of the houses. And she was much gratified that all these owners were ready to fall in with her suggestions; and that her lady workers were willing to undertake the responsibility of management and direction.
She decided to bequeath her own freehold property to her married nieces, the three daughters of Mrs. Charles Lewes, in the belief that they would care for the work, and continue the good management which would ensure the welfare of the tenants. Her nieces had been associated with her in many ways from their early girlhood, and their love and reverence for her made it likely that they would respond to this trust.
These arrangements entailed many letters and interviews, the looking over documents and accounts (she had no fewer than nine banking accounts for which she was personally responsible); and all this was a most arduous task in her weak state of health.
In May she went with Miss Yorke to Larksfield to try what rest and fresh air would do for her. She greatly enjoyed the beauty of the spring, and sat in an easy chair on the lawn for hours delighting in the birds and flowers, and specially in the scarlet poppies and golden broom seen against the blue distance.
However, she was fast losing strength, and when she returned to Marylebone Rd., on June 3rd, she never left the house again; but her energy never flagged. Up to within three days of her death she continued to see her friends and fellow workers, using to the utmost her failing strength, and endeavouring to arrange for the efficient carrying on of the many works in which she took such a keen interest. She was much cheered by the money sent to secure the purchase of Mariners’ Hill, and she watched eagerly for letters or news of donations.
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS
Miss Rosamond Davenport Hill had bequeathed £500 to her sister, Miss Florence Davenport Hill, on the understanding that the latter should leave it to Octavia. When, however, Miss F. D. Hill heard how very ill Octavia was, she generously sent a cheque, which came the very day before Octavia died. This £500 was more than enough to secure the purchase of Mariners’ Hill, and Octavia’s delight and thankfulness were great. It was a specially precious gift, as coming from such an old and dear friend. Octavia was anxious that her illness should not attract public attention; but, as it became known, flowers and loving messages came pouring in, which touched her deeply. She longed to see her relations and friends, and was delighted to welcome all, as far as her failing strength would allow. One of her nieces, after visiting her, wrote, “It was like Heaven, to be with her”; and others felt the same. She seemed to glow with faith and unselfish love, and she had a sweet smile for anyone who rendered the least service.
All through her illness she was surrounded by love. Miss Sim, who for many years had formed part of her household, was unfailing in her watchful care. Her sisters were constantly with her, and Miss Yorke was devoted to her day and night. She was most tenderly and carefully advised by Dr. Turnbull, who had previously attended her sister, Miranda.
When Octavia realised that she could not recover she said, speaking of her work, “I might have given it a few more touches, but I think it is nearly all planned now, very well.” It was a great comfort to her to know that Miss Yorke, who had lived and worked with her for thirty years, would stay on in the dear home in Marylebone Road, and form a centre for fellow-workers, and old friends; and, above all, that she would take the responsibility of such a large amount of the work.
Octavia was also very happy at the arrangements made for the other house property; for she knew that each group of ladies would gather others round them. She felt that she was handing on the torch to those who were animated by the right spirit, and in speaking of this future for her work she said, “When I think of all this, it does not seem like death, but a new life.”
On the evening of August 12th, she gathered her household round her to say good-bye, and on the following night passed peacefully away.
She was laid by her sister, Miranda, in the quiet little churchyard at Crockham Hill; and, although no formal invitations to the funeral had been sent, friends and relations gathered from far and near, even one of her Dutch friends coming from Amsterdam for the occasion; and many representatives of public bodies with which she had been connected were present. Among the many lovely wreaths sent, was one from H.R.H. Princess Louise, bearing the following inscription:—
“In deepest admiration and esteem for one who devoted her whole life and energy to the advancement and welfare of her fellow-countrymen.”
Sir Robert Hunter had been deputed to represent the Princess as he was Chairman of the “National Trust for preserving places of beauty,” of which H.R.H. was President.
Suggestions had been made that Octavia should be buried in Westminster Abbey, but her relations were obliged to decline this honour, as her express directions had been that she should be buried at Crockham Hill.
The desire for a more public recognition, however, was gratified by a memorial service which was held in Southwark Cathedral, in the centre of a district where so much of her later work had been done. This was largely attended, and a beautifully appreciative sermon was preached by Canon Rawnsley.
SUMMARY OF HER PURPOSES
Many tributes were paid to her memory in newspapers both English and foreign; but perhaps the best summary of her life’s work might be expressed in the words which she herself used in returning thanks for the portrait presented to her by her friends in 1898. “When I am gone, I hope my friends will not try to carry out any special system, or to follow blindly in the track which I have trodden. New circumstances require various efforts; and it is the spirit, not the dead form, that should be perpetuated. When the time comes that we slip from our places, and they are called to the front as leaders, what should they inherit from us? Not a system, not an association, not dead formulas. We shall leave them a few houses, purified and improved, a few new and better ones built, a certain record of thoughtful and loving management, a few open spaces, some of which will be more beautiful than they would have been; but what we care most to leave them is not any tangible thing, however great, not any memory, however good, but the quick eye to see, the true soul to measure, the large hope to grasp the mighty issues of the new and better days to come—greater ideals greater hope, and patience to realise both.”
Notes
1. Wordsworth wrote “frame,” but Mr. Hill altered it.
2. Octavia called the mother pigeon “May,” and the young one had been hatched in a dark loft.
3. See “Dr. Southwood Smith, a Retrospect.” By Mrs. C. L. Lewis. 1898.
4. Miss Gillies and her sister Margaret were Mrs. Hill’s bridesmaids, and became life-long friends of her and her children.
5. Wife of R. H. Horne.
6. A vivid account of the life of the toy-workers appeared on May 17th, 1856, in Household Words, under the title of “Ragged Robin.”
7. Mentioned in the letter of February 27th, 1856.
8. Journal of Association.
9. Promoters of Working Men’s Association.
10. A party of four people.
11. Afterwards Lord Ripon.
12. Three years earlier Dr. Furnivall lent Mrs. Hill Ruskin’s “Modern Painters,” and Octavia read it then for the first time.
13. Charles Mansfield, author of “Letters from Paraguay,” and one of the Christian Socialist leaders.
14. During the Crimean War.
15. Octavia never took any notes. Her recollections of the sermons are wholly from memory.
16. The Czar Nicholas.
17. By Charles Kingsley.
18. 1851 or 1852, certainly not later.
19. Builder connected with Co-operative Society.
20. After the glass had been painted, a hard composition was put at the back to make it solid enough to bear a weight. Sometimes it broke in the process, and the painting had to be done over again.
21. Turner’s “Old Teméraire.”
22. Kate Sterling, afterwards Mrs. Ross.
23. The morning daily service to which she was accustomed to go.
24. The Toy-workers.
25. Presumably Miss Emma Cons.
26. She went every afternoon to Lincoln’s Inn.
27. Octavia was confirmed at Christ Church, Marylebone, by Tait, then Bishop of London.
28. Formerly nurse to Octavia and her elder sisters at Wisbeach, then married to a tailor in London.
29. Composed by Octavia.
30. Miss Margaret Gillies.
31. Miss Emily Smith.
32. The little toy-worker who had cared so much for the cat.
33. Octavia’s half-sister, Mrs. Whelpdale.
34. She was drawing for Ruskin and walking a great part of the way to Dulwich and back and standing there for five or six hours.
35. Miss Harrison, with whom she was to travel.
36. Chartres Cathedral.
37. Octavia had only learned a little French from her mother, and had had no practice in speaking except a very little to the refugee Poles, who worked at the Ladies’ Guild, eight years previously.
38. Miss Emily Smith.
39. The wife of Mr. Ellis Yarnall and sister of Miss Harrison.
40. One of the girls who made toys.
41. The daughter of a former nurse.
42. She was teaching all day.
43. Miranda’s former pupils, whom Mrs. Hill was teaching.
44. Where Octavia was drawing.
45. A visit to Wales, where she first saw mountains.
46. The landlord of 14, Nottingham Place.
47. How difficult some of Octavia’s zealous workers found this problem may be gathered from the following story:—On one occasion she heard a stormy altercation going on between one of her collectors and a tenant, and found that the point at issue was whether the rent due was 6s. 11d. or 7s. all but a penny.
48. After her return from Italy.
49. Miss Harris’s five nieces of whom she had charge.
50. At Nottingham Place.
51. Written by Miranda for her little pupils.
52. First reference to the housing schemes.
53. Mr. William Shaen.
54. The marriage of Gertrude to Charles Lewes, son of G. H. Lewes.
55. Mrs. Hill and her three daughters were staying near Falmouth in a cottage lent them by Miss Sterling.
56. Miss Sterling’s servant.
57. Hugh’s wife.
58. This was afterwards known as the “Maurice Girls’ Home.”
59. One of the first tenants. Her only boy died in hospital. She was a widow who went very early to work. Octavia and her sisters went every morning for some weeks to get the children ready for school, until they had learnt to do it themselves.
60. A name her sister Miranda gave her, because she attracted so many persons to join her in all she did.
61. Mentioned in the “Homes of the London Poor.”
62. Marylebone Road.
63. A former pupil.
64. This refers to a performance of the “Merchant of Venice” in Dr. Martineau’s schoolroom in Portland Street. Octavia acted Portia.
65. A present to her from the tenants on her return after illness.
66. This refers to the appointment of Mrs. Nassau Senior, as the first woman inspector of workhouses, by Mr. Stansfeld, President of the Poor Law Board.
67. Secretary of the Local Government Board.
68. An allusion to her grandfather, Dr. Southwood Smith.
69. A cupboard sent specially from Cumberland, dated 1605.
70. She was on a tour in Scotland with George MacDonald and his family.
71. Afterwards Mrs. Loch.
72. Daughter of Ellis Yarnall.
73. This article came out in British Quarterly Review.
74. This refers to the formation of an Administrative Committee of the Charity Organisation Society to be elected by the local committees.
75. This refers to the movement for purchasing the Swiss Cottage Fields for the public.
76. The Swiss Cottage Fields.
77. Now better known as Parliament Hill.
78. Now Lady Courtney.
79. This is the letter by which Miranda inaugurated the Kyrle Society.
80. A reference to Octavia’s past attempt to save the Swiss Cottage Fields.
81. A house in Paddington Street which Octavia undertook to manage.
82. The Kyrle Society.
83. Re Kyrle Society.
84. A premature attempt to get the gardens of Lincoln’s Inn Fields open to the public.
85. This refers to a petition circulated among the electors of Marylebone asking Mr. Hughes to come forward again at the next election.
86. She boarded out one of these orphans in memory of Mrs. N. Senior.
87. The artist who painted Octavia, and who, afterwards, went out to Father Damien, to help the lepers.
88. The Charity Organisation Committees.
89. Her Donation Fund.
90. A tenant.
91. About a playground in Whitechapel.
92. Miranda’s Fairy Story.
93. This evidently refers to the seizure of several Englishmen and their subsequent massacre.
94. A churchyard that had just been laid out by the Kyrle Society. It was opened by the Princess Louise.
95. She had just returned from a short visit to the George MacDonalds’ at Bordighera where M. was staying.
96. The rent collecting day.
97. An open space near the Southwark cottages.
98. Hon. Sec. of the Kyrle Society.
99. A poor woman whose family O. had sent to the north, thereby raising them from extreme poverty to comfortable independence.
100. Charles Lewes, husband of Octavia’s sister Gertrude.
101. For the Jubilee services.
102. Canon Rawnsley.
103. This is the pass over Skiddaw mentioned in previous letter.
104. When she went to Larksfield she spent much time in clearing thistles in the garden ground, which had been a neglected field.
105. To the first L.C.C.
106. The Moral Ideal.
107. He was Alderman of the first L.C.C.
108. Mrs. Lewes’ second daughter, afterwards Mrs. J. Hopwood.
109. The architect who for forty-two years helped Octavia.
110. About Housing.
111. In “Aurora Leigh.”
112. House of her half-brother, Arthur Hill.
113. Acted by George MacDonald and his family.
114. Mr. Loch, on his part, was impressed with her way of seizing the point that was “eternally important;” and he has, since her death, expressed a wish to use the influence of the C.O.S. in the direction of those more positive reforms in which she was specially engaged in Notting Hill.
115. This portrait was left by Octavia to the National Portrait Gallery.
116. The house to which they moved after school was given up.
117. The tenants in the Deptford courts.
118. The violent behaviour of the tenants at Deptford.
119. One of the most respectable tenants.
120. Mrs. Whelpdale, Octavia’s half-sister.
121. This refers to some small freehold houses given by Mrs. Scrase Dickins to be held in trust by Lord Wolmer, Miss Johnson, and Octavia, on the understanding that the interest accruing from the gift should be devoted to some good object.
122. South America.
123. The first bit of land given to the National Trust.
124. Lady Ducie left to Octavia a valuable freehold which had been managed by Octavia for many years.
125. Mr. Lawrence Chubb.
126. An old Church House in Kent.
127. A well given by Octavia to Toys Hill village, the spring being discovered by a “water-finder.”
128. The description refers to the dedication to the public of the land at Brandlehow, near Derwentwater.
129. Mrs. Hill was nearly ninety-four years of age at her death.
130. Mr. R. B. Litchfield, one of the founders of the Working Men’s College in Great Ormond Street (now in Crowndale Road).
131. This letter alludes to a proposed visit to Letchworth where she had been asked to assist in judging the merits of certain model cottages which were to be exhibited there.
132. Daughter of Sir John Macdonell and of Octavia’s old friend, the niece of Mary Howitt.
133. In memory of Miranda.
134. Mr. and Mrs. Ouvry.
135. A proposed addition to the Ide Hill land.
136. Mr. Nigel Bond, Secretary of National Trust.
137. Her brother, Arthur Hill.
138. The above letter refers to a gift from a servant, for Mariners’ Hill.
139. A very dear friend of Miranda’s.
140. General Maurice’s daughter, who had been working in Notting Hill with Miss Yorke and Octavia.
Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers and collected together at the end of the last chapter.