
HistoryExtra podcast Untold LGBTQ stories of the National Trust
Feb 6, 2026
Michael Hall, historian and author of A Queer Inheritance, explores hidden queer links across National Trust properties. He traces queer origins at the Trust's founding, examines material clues and social networks that reveal connections, and discusses how class, gender nonconformity and archival methods shape these stories. The conversation calls for more research into queer heritage and identities.
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Kingston Lacey: Exile And Remote Redecoration
- William Banks inherited Kingston Lacey but was forced into exile after being caught with a guardsman in Green Park.
- He redecorated the house by remote control while his brother and sister acted on his behalf.
Smallhythe Place As A Lesbian Hub
- Smallhythe Place passed through Ellen Terry to her daughter Edith Craig, who lived there with two close lesbian friends.
- The house became a hub for lesbian writers and artists such as Radclyffe Hall.
Why Queer Owners Gave Houses To The Trust
- Many donors who gave houses to the National Trust were unmarried men with industrial or banking wealth who renovated manor houses.
- The Trust unexpectedly became the repository for numerous queer-shaped estates because these owners sought institutional stewardship.



