THE HISTORIC HOUSES FOUNDATION
Grants of between £1,000 and £250,000 are available to organisations and individuals in England and Wales to help preserve heritage buildings of architectural significance, particularly historic country houses, their gardens and grounds, and the works of art within them.
__________
o Application deadline: none – pre-application submissions may be made at any time.
o Funder: The Historic Houses Foundation (founded 2005. Charity number 1111049. Total value of all grants awarded during the year ended 30 June 2023: £424,800 (2022: £2,635,000)).
o Who can apply: organisations or individuals in England and Wales that have the legal responsibility for the repair of an historic building, its gardens and grounds.
o Key words: Rural Areas, Heritage, Historic Buildings, Architecture, Country Houses, Gardens, Works of Art, Wales, England.
__________
Previously known as the Country Houses Foundation, the Historic Houses Foundation is an independent charity which gives grants to help preserve heritage buildings of architectural significance, particularly historic country houses, their gardens and grounds, and the works of art within them.
Applications can be made by either organisations or individuals for properties in England and Wales, providing they can demonstrate that they have the legal responsibility for the property in question, ideally owning the property or estate or holding a lease with more than 20 years to run. Applicants that can evidence they have a legally binding agreement with a minimum lease period of 20 years are also eligible to apply for a grant.
Buildings should preferably be listed, scheduled, or in the case of a garden, included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. The Foundation will also award grants to projects which involve an unlisted building of sufficient historic or architectural significance or importance, if it is within a conservation area.
Applicants should fulfil the following criteria:
1. The building or structure is listed. However, grants that involve an unlisted building, particularly in a conservation area, may be considered.
2. The project can proceed within a reasonable timeframe (usually within 1-2 years).
3. The project is sustainable with a suitable conservation and/or business plan. A grant is unlikely to be awarded without this information.
4. The project will enhance the historic environment.
5. There is a compelling need for the work undertaken to be done within the next two to three years.
6. There is a financial need for the grant.
7. There will be appropriate public access, and
8. The structure is rural, either in the countryside or where it has been overtaken by urban or suburban development.
Grants of between £1,000 and £250,000 are available, although in actuality awards rarely exceed £50,000. Please note that the Foundation normally expects a matched funding contribution from all applicants.
During the year ended 30th June 2023, the Foundation considered 70 requests for support (2022: 59) and offered grants totalling £424,800 to 13 applicants (2022: £2,635,000 to 24 applicants).
Details of all grants awarded over the previous 2 years can be found on pages 3-4 and 16-17 of the Foundation’s annual accounts.
Funding is not available for:
o Alterations and improvements, and repairs to non historic fabric or services.
o Buildings and structures which have been the subject of recent purchase and where the cost of works for which grant is sought should have been recognised in the purchase price paid.
o Churches and chapels, unless now or previously linked to a country house or estate.
o Conservation of furniture, fittings and equipment except where they are themselves of historic or architectural significance, have a historic relationship with the site, are relevant to the project, and can be secured long term from sale or disposal.
o Demolition, unless agreed as part of a repair and conservation programme.
o General operational or running costs.
o Projects which do not principally involve the repair or conservation of a historic building or structure.
o Rent, loan or mortgage payments.
o Routine maintenance and minor repairs, or
o Work carried out before a grant offer has been made in writing and accepted.
The scheme has a 2-stage application process consisting of:
1. Submission of a pre-applications form.
2. Successful applicants at the pre-application stage are invited to submit a full application. The Foundation usually arranges a site visit with the applicant at the full application stage.
Further information, guidance and a pre-application form is available on the Foundation’s website. Pre-application forms can be submitted at any time. The Foundation normally responds to all pre-applications within a month.
Contact details for the Foundation are:
David Price
Secretary
The Historic Houses Foundation
Sheephouse Farm
Uley Road
Dursley
Gloucestershire
GL115AD
Email: info@