The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three Victorian philanthropists - Miss Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley. Concerned about the impact of uncontrolled development and industrialisation, they set up the Trust to act as a guardian for the nation in the acquisition and protection of threatened coastline, countryside and buildings.
More than a century later, the National Trust now cares for over 248,000 hectares (612,000 acres) of beautiful countryside in the UK, plus more than 700 miles of coastline and more than 200 buildings and gardens of outstanding interest and importance.
Most of these properties are held in perpetuity and so their future protection is secure. The vast majority are open to visitors and the National Trust are constantly looking at ways in which they can improve public access and on-site facilities.
Amongst the historic properties in the Trust's care are 166 fine houses, 19 castles, 47 industrial monuments and mills, 49 churches and chapels, and 35 pubs and inns. But it doesn’t stop there. The National Trust also looks after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, nature reserves, and villages - for ever, for everyone.
The millions of objects in the care of the National Trust reflect its diversity. Conservation staff and volunteers care for an astonishing range of structures and contents, from 26 sets of samurai armour, or 19 magnificent paintings by Turner, to the Oscar awarded to George Bernard Shaw, the national collection of lawnmowers, 57 meat strainers or a photograph album the size of a postage stamp.
An estimated 50 million people visited the National Trust's open-air properties in 2004.
Their pay for entry properties were visited by more than 12 million people in 2004.
The Trust now has more than 3.4 million members, and 43,000 volunteers.
The National Trust is a charity and is completely independent of Government. They rely for income on membership fees, donations and legacies, and revenue raised from their commercial operations.
The National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
The National Trust for Scotland nts.org.uk
Photographic Library for the National Trust in Great Britain http://www.ntpl.org.uk/
