Hardwicke Rawnsley Hardwicke Rawnsley Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley (29 September 1851 – 28 May 1920) was a Church of England clergyman, poet, hymn writer, local politician, and conservationist. He was also one of the founders of the National Trust. Living in the English Lake District for more than thirty years, he worked for the protection of the countryside and secured the support of people of influence for his campaigns. Rawnsley was born at the rectory, Shiplake, Oxfordshire, England, the fourth of ten children of the Rev Robert Drummond Burrell Rawnsley (1817–1882) and his wife, Catherine Ann, "née" Franklin (1818–1892). An older brother,
Robert Hunter (National Trust) natural beauty and historic interest for the nation. The need for such a body was emphasised in 1886, when the owner of Sayes Court, a manor house in Deptford, wished to give it to the nation, but could not because no national organisation existed to accept the gift. He established a permanent trust under the chairmanship of the vicar of the parish, and presented the house and gardens with a substantial financial endowment to maintain them. In November 1893 Hill, Hunter and Rawnsley met at the offices of the Commons Preservation Society. They agreed to set up a national body,