Marriage and activism Henrietta Barnett

toynbee hall 1902

in 1884, barnetts established (and began living at) toynbee hall, pioneering university settlement named after deceased distinguished historian arnold toynbee, had advocated education of working classes , reduction of division between social classes. in 1897 annual loan exhibitions of fine art began @ nearby whitechapel gallery through barnetts efforts. in 1903 richard tawney began working them, children s country holiday fund, , workers educational association. william beveridge , clement attlee worked barnetts started own careers. visit toynbee hall inspired jane addams found hull house in chicago.

evergreen hill, spaniards road



1 south square, hampstead garden suburb, former home of henrietta barnett

in 1889 activist couple acquired weekend home @ spaniard s end in hampstead area of north-west london. barnetts became inspired ebenezer howard , model housing development movement (then exemplified letchworth garden city), protecting part of nearby hampstead heath development eton college. in 1904, established trusts bought 243 acres of land along newly opened northern line extension golders green. became hampstead garden suburb, model garden city developed through efforts , of architects raymond unwin , sir edwin lutyens , grew encompass on 800 acres. in 1909, adult education institute opened in middle of new hampstead garden suburb, cultural programmes , discussion groups. school girls established , named henrietta barnett school.

although suburb never developed according lutyens s plan (and became middle class enclave rather mixture of classes), did include grade listed st jude s church, clubhouse , tea house (for non-alcoholic social focus), quaker meeting house, children s homes, nursery school, , housing old people.

the barnetts never had children of own. adopted dorothy woods, , henrietta served legal guardian brain-damaged elder sister, fanny. after samuel died in 1913, henrietta founded barnett house @ oxford (1914) in memory. helped become university s centre social work , social policy education.