Why is everyone so cross about the National Trust?
What is at stake is not merely old houses but the telling of history
The National Trust’s Twitter feed is telling. “Have you ever noticed how fascinating tree bark can be?” asks one less-than-Trumpish tweet. “Happy birthday William Wordsworth!” reads another. Some, it is true, strike a darker tone. “As Bonfire Night approaches,” warns one, “remember to check for hibernating hedgehogs.” But on the whole the tone typifies an entity known for specialising in fresh scones, old people and older stones—an organisation that is, as Alan Bennett put it, “so decent, so worthy, so…dull”.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Trust issues”
Britain November 12th 2022
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- Why is everyone so cross about the National Trust?
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