National Trust facts for kids
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| Established | 1895 |
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| Legal status | Trust |
| Purpose | To look after Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty permanently for the benefit of the nation across England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
| Headquarters | Heelis, Swindon, Wiltshire, England |
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Region served
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England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
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Membership
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5.95 million (2019/20) |
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Key people
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Main organ
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Board of trustees |
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Revenue
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£681 million (2019/20) |
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Staff
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14,000 |
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Volunteers
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53,000 |
The National Trust is a special charity and group that helps protect amazing historic places and beautiful natural spots in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It's like a guardian for old buildings, stunning coastlines, and peaceful countryside. There's a separate group called the National Trust for Scotland that does the same job in Scotland.
The Trust started in 1895. It was founded by three people: Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter, and Hardwicke Rawnsley. Their goal was to keep beautiful and historic places safe forever for everyone to enjoy. The Trust even got special powers from the government, starting with the National Trust Act in 1907.
At first, the Trust mostly received land as gifts. After World War II, many large country houses were in danger of being lost. The Trust helped save many of these, often by receiving them as gifts. Today, big country houses and their lands are a huge part of what the Trust looks after. But it also protects wild places like the Lake District and Peak District.
The Trust doesn't just own grand estates. It also looks after smaller homes. Some of these are important because famous people lived there. For example, you can visit the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney from The Beatles.
The National Trust is one of the biggest landowners in the United Kingdom. It owns nearly 250,000 hectares (about 617,763 acres) of land. It also protects 780 miles of coastline. Its properties include over 500 historic houses, castles, gardens, and nature reserves. Most places charge an entry fee, but members can visit for free. Open spaces like parks are usually free for everyone. The Trust earns over £680 million each year. This money comes from memberships, donations, and income from its shops and restaurants.
Contents
What is the National Trust's Story?
Who Started the National Trust?
The National Trust officially began on January 12, 1895. Its full legal name is still "The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty." The three founders were Octavia Hill, a social reformer; Sir Robert Hunter, a lawyer; and Hardwicke Rawnsley, a clergyman.
Before the Trust, Octavia Hill had already started a group to help people enjoy beautiful things. Robert Hunter worked to protect open spaces. Hardwicke Rawnsley fought to save the Lake District. In 1894, they decided to create a company that could buy and protect important buildings and land.
They held a meeting in July 1894 and chose the name "National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty." The Trust was officially registered in 1895. Its main goal was to keep beautiful and historic places safe forever for the country.
How Did the Trust Begin?
The Trust got its first piece of land in early 1895. It was Dinas Oleu, a clifftop area in Wales, given by Fanny Talbot. The Trust's first building was Alfriston Clergy House in Sussex, bought in 1896. It was a 14th-century house that needed a lot of repairs.
In 1907, the Trust got special powers from Parliament. This meant it could declare land "inalienable." This means the land cannot be sold without Parliament's special permission. This rule helps protect the Trust's properties for a very long time.
In its early years, the Trust focused on getting open spaces and buildings. Most buildings were small, but Barrington Court in Somerset was its first large country house. The Trust also acquired places that became nature reserves, like Wicken Fen and Blakeney Point. By 1914, the Trust had 725 members and owned 63 properties, covering 5,814 acres.
How Did the Trust Grow?
The Trust continued to grow after its founders passed away. In the 1920s, it gained more archaeological sites and old buildings. Two medieval castles, Bodiam Castle and Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire, were given to the Trust. In 1925, the Trust raised a record £80,000 to buy the Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire.
The Trust also started protecting more coastlines in the 1930s. Many small coastal properties in Devon and Cornwall were donated. In 1934, the Trust acquired its first entire village, West Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, a historic factory, was also donated with its village, Styal.
During the 1930s and 1940s, a group of women called Ferguson's Gang helped raise money for the Trust. They wore disguises and did stunts to deliver their donations. Their efforts helped the Trust buy properties like Shalford Mill and Newtown Old Town Hall.
Saving Country Houses
In 1936, the Trust created a special committee to save country houses and gardens. Many owners could no longer afford to keep them up. A "country house scheme" was set up. This allowed owners to give their homes to the Trust. They could avoid certain taxes, and their families could still live there, as long as the public could visit sometimes.
The first house offered under this scheme was Stourhead in Wiltshire. The first property actually handed over was Wightwick Manor near Wolverhampton. Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire was another early acquisition. It came with the village of Lacock and a large amount of land.
The Years After World War II
After World War II, the government created the National Land Fund. This fund helped the Trust acquire historic houses and land. The first open space acquired was farmland in the Lake District. The first country house was Cotehele in Cornwall. Other important places like Hardwick Hall and Penrhyn Castle were also acquired.
Between 1945 and 1965, the Trust grew a lot. Its membership increased from 7,850 to over 157,000. The amount of land it owned also grew significantly.
The 21st Century and Beyond
In 2002, the Trust bought Tyntesfield, a large Victorian mansion in Somerset. This was its first country house purchase in over ten years. In 2005, it acquired Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland.
In 2005, the Trust moved its main office to Heelis in Swindon. The building is named after Beatrix Potter, the famous children's author. She was a big supporter of the Trust and donated land in Cumbria.
In recent years, the Trust has been looking at the history of its properties more closely. In 2020, it found that many of its houses and gardens had links to colonialism and historic slavery. The Trust is working to share these stories and help people understand the past better. For example, a statue at Dunham Massey Hall with links to the slave trade was moved.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused the Trust to close its houses, shops, and cafes. Parks and gardens also closed for a time. The Trust encouraged people to enjoy nature safely during this period with its #BlossomWatch campaign.
How is the National Trust Run?
The National Trust is an independent charity. It is governed by a board of trustees. These trustees are overseen by a council. The council has members elected by the Trust's own members and members appointed by other related organizations.
The Trust has offices in different regions across the UK. Its main headquarters are in Swindon. In 2019/20, the Trust employed about 14,000 staff members. It also has over 53,000 amazing volunteers who help out.
How Does the National Trust Get Money?
In the year ending February 2020, the Trust's total income was over £680 million. Most of this money comes from membership fees. People who become members pay a yearly fee, which helps the Trust do its important work. Other big sources of income include donations, money from its properties, and profits from shops and cafes. The Trust also receives grants from other charities and government groups.
Members get free entry to many Trust properties. The Trust also takes part in special events like Heritage Open Days. On these days, non-members can visit some properties for free.
Who are the Members and Volunteers?
In 2020, the National Trust had nearly 6 million members. These members get free entry to many of the Trust's properties. There's also a group called the Royal Oak Foundation for supporters in America.
The Trust relies a lot on its volunteers. As of 2020, over 53,000 people volunteered their time to help the Trust. They do everything from guiding visitors to maintaining gardens and helping with conservation work.
What Does the National Trust Own?
As of 2020, the Trust owns almost 250,000 hectares of land. It also protects 780 miles of coastline. Its properties include more than 200 historic houses, 41 castles, and many industrial sites, gardens, and villages. Most of the land is used for farming, often by tenant farmers. The Trust also rents out holiday cottages.
Historic Houses and Gardens
The Trust owns over 200 historic houses that are open to the public. Many are large country houses with beautiful gardens and parks. These houses often contain original art, furniture, and books. Attingham Park in Shropshire is one of the most visited country houses. Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire is a very popular park without a main house.
The Trust bought most of its country houses in the mid-20th century. At that time, many owners could no longer afford to keep their large homes. The Trust helped save these important buildings. Since 2000, the Trust has acquired fewer large houses, with Tyntesfield and Seaton Delaval Hall being recent additions.
Besides grand estates, the Trust also owns smaller, special properties. Many are linked to famous people. For example, you can visit Cherryburn, where artist Thomas Bewick was born. You can also see the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon in Liverpool. The Birmingham Back to Backs show how working-class families lived in the past.
Art Collections
The Trust has a huge collection of art. This includes paintings, sculptures, furniture, and textiles. Many of these artworks are still in the historic houses where they have been for centuries. Artists like Rembrandt, Hieronymous Bosch, and Peter Paul Rubens are represented in the Trust's collections.
The Trust also supports modern art. It has a program called "Trust New Art" that works with artists. These artists create new artworks inspired by the Trust's places.
Coastline and Countryside
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The National Trust is the largest private landowner in the UK. Most of its land is countryside. A large part of this land is attached to country houses. But many areas were bought specifically for their natural beauty or scientific importance. The Trust owns about a quarter of the Lake District and a significant part of the Peak District National Park.
Most of the Trust's land is farmed. Public access is usually allowed on paths and special routes. Areas like forests, woods, and moorland are generally open to the public for free.
The Trust owns or protects about one-fifth of the coastline in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It has a long-term project called Project Neptune to acquire even more coastline.
Protecting National Trust Properties
The National Trust has a special power from Parliament. It can declare land "inalienable." This means the land cannot be sold or used as collateral without special permission from Parliament. This rule helps ensure that these important places are protected forever.
In 2017, the Trust supported a plan for a road tunnel under the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. This plan would involve buying some land that the Trust holds.
Most Visited Places
The National Trust publishes a list of its most visited properties each year. Here are some of the most popular places that charge an admission fee:
| No. | Property | Location | Visitors |
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| 1 | Attingham Park | Shropshire |  562,873 |
| 2 | Cliveden | Buckinghamshire | 543,751 |
| 3 | Dunham Massey Hall | Greater Manchester | 506,534 |
| 4 | Clumber Park | Nottinghamshire | 489,257 |
| 5 | Calke Abbey | Derbyshire | 440,966 |
| 6 | Fountains Abbey | North Yorkshire | 389,511 |
| 7 | Belton House | Lincolnshire | 355,679 |
| 8 | Stourhead | Wiltshire | 350,894 |
| 9 | Anglesey Abbey | Cambridgeshire | 339,355 |
| 10 | Kingston Lacy | Dorset | 319,820 |
See also
In Spanish: Fundación Nacional para Lugares de Interés Histórico o Belleza Natural para niños
- An Taisce and the Irish Heritage Trust (Republic of Ireland)
- English Heritage, a similar charity that manages places of historic interest in England
- Historic Houses Association
- Landmark Trust
- List of National Trust properties in England
- List of National Trust properties in Northern Ireland
- List of National Trust properties in Wales
- National Trust (typeface)
- National Trust for Scotland
- Manx National Heritage (equivalent body for the Isle of Man)
