The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust

Charity Number: 802796

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £150,000-£170,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 8-10 weeks (notifications shortly after June and November trustee meetings)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £25,000
  • Typical Grant: £500 - £10,000 (75% of grants fall within this range)
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom-wide
  • Application Deadlines: April 1st and October 1st (semi-annual)

Contact Details

Website: www.nmct.co.uk

Email: info@nmct.co.uk

Phone: 01491 598083

Administrator: Nell Hoare, Secretary (info@nmct.co.uk)

Postal Address: PO Box 4291, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 9JA

Nell Hoare is available to discuss project eligibility, provide advice on applications, and suggest other sources of funding if additional support is needed.

Overview

Founded in 1990 by the British Library and the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (with initial funding from the Office of Arts and Libraries and private donors), The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust is the only UK grant-giver focused solely on the care and conservation of manuscripts. Since its establishment, the Trust has awarded over £4 million in grants, enabling the conservation of thousands of historical, literary, scientific, architectural, and other vital documents across projects with a total value exceeding £10 million. The Trust operates through a board of five expert trustees who receive specialist advice from The National Archives, the Museums Archives and Libraries Division of Welsh Government, and the Scottish Council on Archives. The organization benefits from long-standing support from The Pilgrim Trust and other major charitable foundations, enabling it to maintain consistent annual grant-making of approximately £150,000-£170,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Conservation Grants Programme

  • Amount: £500 - £25,000 (majority are £500 - £10,000; 25% exceed £10,000)
  • Application Method: Fixed deadlines (April 1st and October 1st)
  • Eligible Costs:
  • Conservator's time and fees
  • Conservation materials
  • Binding and repair work
  • Preservation materials (boxes, folders, etc.)
  • Staff or intern salaries for conservation work
  • VAT (if non-reclaimable)
  • Digitization (only as part of broader preservation project)
  • First-stage listing of manuscripts

Priority Areas

The Trust funds conservation of manuscripts and archives that are:

  • Of local, regional, national, or specialist significance
  • Of historic or educational value
  • Medieval manuscripts, industrial plans, architectural plans, court rolls, pedigrees, musical manuscripts
  • Literary, scientific, and historical documents
  • Archives requiring urgent conservation intervention

Specific Materials Funded: Handwritten and manuscript materials including letters, diaries, plans, maps, court records, and historical documents

Training Priority: Trustees particularly favor projects that incorporate training opportunities, such as first jobs for early career conservators, skill development for senior conservators, or preventive conservation training for volunteers.

What They Don't Fund

  • Public records
  • Institutional archives (e.g., university administrative records)
  • Photographic, audio-visual, or printed materials
  • Capital costs or conservation equipment
  • Standalone digitization projects (must be part of conservation work)
  • National libraries or museums
  • Directly government-funded institutions
  • Manuscript arrangement/listing (limited funding only)
  • Collections not legally owned by applicant or deposited with them
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Professor David McKitterick FSA FBA - Chairman

Emeritus Honorary Professor of Historical Bibliography at Trinity College, Cambridge; former Cambridge University Librarian and Trinity College Librarian; author of works on bibliography and library history.

Charles Sebag-Montefiore CBE FSA FCA - Treasurer

Chartered accountant in corporate finance; Trustee of National Gallery and Harewood House Trust; author of books on art collectors and the art market.

Gabriel Sewell

College Librarian at Christ Church Oxford; previous roles at University of St Andrews, Durham Cathedral, and Lambeth Palace Library; Council member of the Bibliographical Society.

Dr Norman James FRHistS

Worked at Historical Manuscripts Commission and The National Archives (1980-2014); contributed to archival surveys and published guides; specializes in ecclesiastical history.

Victoria Stevens ACR FIIC

Conservation professional with over 25 years of experience; Subject Lead for Books and Library Materials at West Dean College. Stevens notes: “I am proud to be a strong advocate for the heritage profession: I currently serve not only as a Trustee of the NMCT but also as an Arts Council Museum accreditation mentor and an Institute of Conservation accreditation assessor.”

Original Founding Trustees (1990): John Ehrman, Lewis Golden, and Henry Heaney

The Trustees receive expert advice from The National Archives, the Museums Archives and Libraries Division of Welsh Government, and the Scottish Council on Archives before making grant decisions. This ensures that funded projects meet high standards for conservation practice and that manuscripts are of appropriate significance.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Review eligibility: Check the FAQs section on the website to confirm your project and organization meet eligibility criteria
  2. Contact for advice (optional but recommended): Email Nell Hoare at info@nmct.co.uk to discuss project eligibility or application questions
  3. Download application form: Available at www.nmct.co.uk
  4. Complete and submit: Applications must be submitted using the official NMCT application form
  5. Apply for single items or whole collections: The Trust accepts applications for conservation of individual manuscripts or entire collections

Application Deadlines:

  • April 1st (or nearest working day if falls on weekend)
  • October 1st (or nearest working day if falls on weekend)

Pre-Application Support: Applicants are encouraged to contact Nell Hoare with questions about eligibility or the application process. She can also provide advice on other sources of grant funding for projects requiring additional support.

Decision Timeline

  • April deadline: Trustees review applications in late June; applicants notified shortly thereafter
  • October deadline: Trustees review applications in late November; applicants notified shortly thereafter
  • Total timeline: Approximately 8-10 weeks from application deadline to notification

Review Process: Applications are assessed by experts from The National Archives and other specialist bodies (British Library, National Libraries of Wales or Scotland as appropriate). Site visits may be conducted for some applications to assess material importance and conservation approaches.

Payment Structure: Grants are paid in two installments of 50% each. A final report is required upon project completion.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the Trust awards approximately £150,000-£170,000 annually across multiple grants, with the majority falling in the £500-£10,000 range.

Reapplication Policy

The Trust does not publish a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Contact Nell Hoare at info@nmct.co.uk to discuss unsuccessful applications and options for reapplication.

Application Success Factors

What Strengthens Your Application

1. Demonstrate Partial Funding: Applications are stronger when other funding sources are secured or being pursued. This shows the project has broader support and increases confidence in successful completion.

2. Include Training Opportunities: The Trustees actively prioritize projects that incorporate training elements. Consider building in:

  • First professional position for an early career conservator
  • Skills development opportunities for experienced conservators
  • Preventive conservation training for volunteers or staff
  • Internships or apprenticeships

As noted on their website: “Consider whether you can add a training element and so increase the impact of any funding NMCT may award.”

3. Use Accredited Conservators: Employ conservators who meet professional standards and are appropriately qualified for the work.

4. Emphasize Significance: Clearly articulate why the manuscripts are of local, regional, national, or specialist significance and their historic or educational value.

5. Show Public Access: Demonstrate that conserved materials will be accessible to researchers and the public (essential for private owners applying).

6. Ensure Proper Storage Conditions: Show commitment to preservation through suitable storage conditions post-conservation.

7. Publicize NMCT Support: The Trust expects acknowledgment of their support in project communications and publicity.

Types of Projects Recently Funded

  • Bodleian Library: £20,000 for conservation of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's Green Books (resources for studying the Romantic Movement)
  • Lambeth Palace Library: £20,000 for 'Court of Arches' manuscript collection (created 18-month opportunity for new conservator)
  • University of Glasgow: £14,825 for Historia de Tlaxcala (MS Hunter 242)
  • University of Nottingham: £12,333 for papers of architect Thomas Chambers Hine
  • Worcestershire Archive: £16,515 for Bishop of Worcester's Consistory Court probate documents from 1493
  • Royal Society: £4,359 for medieval almanack circa 1383-1415

These examples demonstrate the Trust's support for diverse materials from medieval manuscripts to 19th-century architectural plans across various types of institutions.

What May Weaken Your Application

  • Projects involving materials that are public records or institutional archives
  • Standalone digitization without conservation component
  • Applications from national museums/libraries or government-funded institutions
  • Requests for equipment or capital costs
  • Collections of questionable significance
  • Lack of public access provisions
  • No training or skills development component

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Be the only game in town: NMCT is the UK's only grant-giver focused exclusively on manuscript conservation, making them essential for this specific work.
  • Time your application carefully: With only two deadlines per year (April 1 and October 1), plan ahead and allow 8-10 weeks for decisions.
  • Add training value: Projects incorporating training for early career conservators or skills development are explicitly prioritized by trustees—build this into your proposal.
  • Seek partial funding: Strengthen applications by demonstrating other funding sources are secured or being pursued.
  • Contact before applying: Nell Hoare welcomes pre-application discussions about eligibility and can suggest complementary funding sources—use this resource.
  • Think beyond the grant amount: While most grants are £500-£10,000, up to 25% exceed £10,000 (up to £25,000), so don't underestimate your needs if justified.
  • Emphasize significance and access: Clearly articulate the historic/educational value of materials and ensure public access provisions are in place.

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