Historic Houses Foundation

Charity Number: 1111049

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £424,800 (2023)
  • Success Rate: 19% (13 grants awarded from 70 applications in 2023)
  • Decision Time: 1-4 months (1 month for pre-application; quarterly trustee meetings for full applications)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £250,000 (most grants under £50,000)
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Website: www.historichousesfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 01453 547124

Email: info@historichousesfoundation.org.uk

Address: Sheephouse Farm, Uley Road, Dursley, Gloucestershire GL11 5AD

Pre-application support: The Foundation strongly recommends seeking professional advice before submitting applications and encourages applicants to seek advice from local authorities or appropriate conservation organisations.

Overview

The Historic Houses Foundation was established in 2005 (originally as the Country Houses Foundation, renamed in 2019) and is an independent registered charity (No. 1111049) dedicated to preserving heritage buildings of architectural significance across England and Wales. The Foundation is admired for being efficient and nimble, governed by an experienced Board of Trustees. Over the past 17 years, the Foundation has awarded nearly £14 million to 266 projects, bringing significant benefits to communities. In the year ending 30 June 2023, the Foundation awarded £424,800 to 13 projects from 70 applications. The Foundation prioritizes places by their national heritage significance and the contribution they make to rural life, focusing on historic country houses, their gardens and grounds, and works of art within them. Several Foundation-funded projects have won prestigious awards including the RIBA Stirling Prize (Astley Castle) and Georgian Group Architectural Awards (St Giles House, Boconnoc House).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £1,000 - £250,000 (most grants under £50,000)

  • Two-stage application process: pre-application followed by full application
  • Pre-applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Full applications considered at quarterly trustee meetings throughout the year
  • Site visits conducted between pre-application and full application stages

Works of Art Conservation: Separate application process for restoration of works of art in historic house collections open to the public (does not require pre-application stage)

Priority Areas

  • Repair and conservation of historic country houses, particularly those of national heritage significance
  • Gardens, grounds, and parkland associated with historic properties
  • Castle roofs, follies, historic gateways, garden terraces, stable yards, and glasshouses
  • Works of art within historic house collections open to the public
  • Projects that either do not qualify for mainstream funding sources or have received only partial funding
  • “Kick start” grants for projects with further funding planned within 1-2 years
  • Projects in rural locations or buildings overtaken by urban/suburban development
  • Projects that enhance the historic environment and demonstrate sustainable commitment to management and care

What They Don't Fund

  • Alterations or improvements
  • Routine repairs and maintenance
  • General running costs
  • Projects without compelling need (typically requiring work within 2-3 years)
  • Non-listed buildings or structures
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Governance and Leadership

The Historic Houses Foundation is governed by an experienced Board of Trustees who not only make funding decisions but also provide expertise to applicants through site visits. The charity operates as a registered charitable company (Company number: 05433717).

The Foundation emphasizes its commitment to promoting new, sustainable uses of heritage buildings to improve their future resilience. Trustees typically conduct site visits involving 3-4 board members, lasting 1-2 hours, as part of the assessment process between pre-application and full application stages.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Stage 1: Pre-Application

  • Submit pre-application form via email or post
  • Can be submitted at any time (rolling basis)
  • Response typically within one month
  • Exception: Works of art restoration applications skip this stage and use a dedicated form

Stage 2: Full Application

  • Invitation to apply if pre-application is successful
  • Site visit arranged with 3-4 trustees (1-2 hours)
  • Must provide professional advisor's or specialist contractor's report
  • Must include colour photographs showing extent and urgency of project
  • Considered at quarterly trustee meetings
  • Applications must be complete; incomplete applications cannot be assessed

Decision Timeline

  • Pre-application response: Within 1 month
  • Acknowledgement of full application: Within 7 days
  • Full application decision: At next quarterly trustee meeting (3-month cycle)
  • Total timeline: Approximately 1-4 months from pre-application to decision

Success Rates

2023 Statistics: 19% success rate (13 grants awarded from 70 applications, totaling £424,800)

2022 Statistics: 41% success rate (24 grants awarded from 59 applications, totaling £2,635,000)

Note: Success rates and funding amounts vary significantly year to year based on available resources and project scale. Even eligible applications are not guaranteed grant offers due to limited resources.

Reapplication Policy

No publicly available information on reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements

Sustainability and Planning

  • “A grant is unlikely to be awarded without...a suitable conservation and/or business plan”
  • Projects must demonstrate sustainability and proceed within a reasonable timeframe (usually 1-2 years)
  • Must demonstrate financial need for the grant

Professional Input

  • “Please seek advice at the outset either from your local authority or an appropriate conservation organisation or heritage agency”
  • “We strongly recommend you seek professional advice before you submit your application”
  • Professional advisor's or specialist contractor's report required
  • High-quality colour photographs essential

Matched Funding

  • “The Foundation normally expects a matched funding contribution from all applicants”
  • Applicants must demonstrate they have considered and applied for other funding sources
  • Foundation considers projects that don't qualify for mainstream funding or have partial funding

Value for Money

  • Foundation assesses whether project costs are realistic and represent good value
  • Applications compared against other submissions in terms of priority

Award-Winning Projects Funded

The Foundation is willing to support significant, high-profile restoration projects:

  • Astley Castle, Warwickshire: RIBA Stirling Prize winner
  • St Giles House, Wimborne: Georgian Group Architectural Award joint winner
  • Stowe House, Buckinghamshire: Award for outstanding achievement
  • Norton Conyers, Ripon: Historic Houses Association/Sotheby's Restoration Award 2014
  • Boconnoc House, Cornwall: Multiple awards including HHA/Sotheby's Restoration Award
  • Hadlow Tower, Kent: Heritage Angels Best Craftsmanship Award

Strategic Positioning

  • Emphasize national heritage significance and contribution to rural life
  • Demonstrate public benefit (Foundation prioritizes properties open to the public)
  • Show compelling need with typical 2-3 year urgency
  • Position project as filling a gap in mainstream funding or complementing partial funding
  • Highlight how project enhances the historic environment

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Build your case for urgency: Demonstrate compelling need for work within 2-3 years and explain why it cannot wait
  • Invest in professional reports early: The Foundation strongly emphasizes professional advice and will not assess incomplete applications
  • Secure matched funding: Expect to contribute matched funding and demonstrate you've explored other funding sources
  • Think beyond bricks and mortar: Include a robust conservation and/or business plan showing long-term sustainability
  • Leverage the site visit: The 1-2 hour site visit with 3-4 trustees is your opportunity to showcase the project's significance and your commitment
  • Emphasize public benefit: Projects open to the public and contributing to rural communities align with Foundation priorities
  • Be patient but strategic: Pre-applications accepted anytime, but quarterly decision cycles mean timing matters for project deadlines
  • Quality over speed: With 19% success rate in 2023, applications must be complete, well-evidenced, and demonstrate clear heritage significance
  • Don't be intimidated by the range: While grants can reach £250,000, most are under £50,000—scale your ask appropriately

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