Wilhelmine Harrod

Wilhelmine Margaret Eve, Lady Harrod (née Cresswell, 1 December 1911 – 9 May 2005), known as Billa Harrod, was a British writer and architectural conservationist, best known for saving the mediaeval churches of Norwich, and the wife of the economist Sir Roy Harrod.

Early life She was born Wilhelmine Margaret Eve Cresswell on 1 December 1911 at New Hunstanton, Snettisham, Norfolk, the daughter of Lieutenant (later Captain) Francis Joseph Cresswell (died 1914) of the Norfolk Regiment and his wife, Barbara ( Ffolkes or ffolkes; 1884–1977). She was related to several Quaker gentry families, including the Gurneys.

Her father was killed in action at Mons not long after the beginning of the First World War, aged 31.

Career From the 1930s, she lived between Norfolk and London, where she had a flat in Holborn with her sister Puffin and worked for the Georgian Group. As part of the process, she became aware of the poor condition of many of Norfolk's churches.

Personal life She married Sir Roy Harrod in 1938. She was widowed in 1978.

Later life She died on 9 May 2005 at her home, the Old Rectory, Holt, Norfolk.