Yorkist History Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £186,731 (2023-24)
• Annual Expenditure: £54,510 (2023-24)
• Grant Range: £250 - £5,000+
• Geographic Focus: UK and international (for medieval research)
• Founded: 1986 (registered 17 February 1986)
• Charity Number: 327005

Contact Details

Website: https://yorkisthistorytrust.org/

Email: yorkisthistorytrust@gmail.com (or yht@snd23.com)

Phone: 01787 472512

Mailing Address: Yorkist History Trust, PO Box 6302, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 9QU

Note: The Trust is currently redesigning their grant application forms. Prospective applicants are advised to contact Dr. Richard Asquith via the email address above for current application details.

Overview

The Yorkist History Trust was established in 1986 by the Richard III Society as its charitable and grant-making arm. With an annual income of £186,731 (2023-24), the Trust's mission is to further education, learning, and research related to the history of late medieval England, particularly the life and reign of King Richard III and the period 1399-1525. The Trust operates through two primary channels: providing research grants to scholars and commissioning/publishing scholarly works on the late medieval period. In 2024, the Trust celebrated its Ruby Anniversary (40 years), launching a special fundraising appeal to continue supporting cutting-edge scholarship and making medieval research accessible to all audiences.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Research Grants

• Support for research projects on late medieval England
• Publication costs for scholarly books and articles
• Ad hoc expenses including archival trips, imaging costs, and permission fees
• Monograph and publication support
• Amount: Varies by project (evidence of grants ranging from £250 to £2,900+)

The Richard III Society Bursary (administered through Institute of Historical Research)

• £1,000 award for postgraduate students
• For dissertations or theses on late 15th/early 16th century topics
• Relevant to Richard III Society and Yorkist History Trust research interests
• Application method: Typically through IHR (fall deadline)

Anne F. Sutton Memorial Fund

• Special fund established 2022 in memory of historian Anne F. Sutton
• Supports research grants and publication costs
• Recent example: £2,900 first installment for Hoskin/New/Martin research grant for Mercantile Material Culture

Ruby Anniversary Conference Bursaries

• £250 bursaries for scholars without institutional funding
• For conference attendance and participation
• Up to nine bursaries available for special events

Priority Areas

The Trust actively funds research and publications in:

• Late medieval English history (particularly 1399-1525)
• The life and reign of King Richard III
• Yorkist period (1461-1485)
• Late 15th and early 16th century English literature, architecture, and art history
• Late medieval European topics relevant to English history
• Primary source transcription and publication projects

Eligible Applicants

• Postgraduate researchers (PGRs)
• Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
• Established academics
• Independent researchers
• Students enrolled in higher degree programs

Current Funded Projects

The Trust is currently supporting eight major research projects:

• Post Mortem Accounts of Sir Thomas Charlton (1465-70)
• Accounts of Sir Ralph Verney's Executors (d.1478)
• Study on Robert Fabyan and the European Book Trade
• Archives of the English Hospice in Rome
• Diplomatic Documents from Archives Départementales du Nord
• London Journal 9 (1483-85)
• Calendar of Ancient Indictment Files (1480-1490)
• The Smithfield Tournament of 1467

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Trust's focus is specifically on late medieval English history. Research outside this period or geographic focus would likely fall outside their remit.

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by 7 trustees who assess applications from scholars and publishers for financial assistance towards research and publication expenses. The Trust also has 2 volunteers supporting its work.

Key Contact: Dr. Richard Asquith - prospective applicants are advised to contact him regarding grant applications.

The Trust was established by the Richard III Society (CLG - Company Number 12038141) and maintains close ties with the Society, though it operates as an independent registered charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The Yorkist History Trust is currently redesigning their grant application forms (as of 2024).

Application Method:

• Contact the Trust directly via email at yorkisthistorytrust@gmail.com
• Reach out to Dr. Richard Asquith for current application procedures
• Use the contact page on their website: https://yorkisthistorytrust.org/contact/

Application Type: Rolling basis (applications appear to be accepted throughout the year, though this should be confirmed with the Trust)

The Richard III Society Bursary: This specific £1,000 postgraduate bursary is administered through the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) and typically has a fall application deadline.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. As the Trust is currently redesigning their application forms, prospective applicants should inquire about current processing times when submitting their initial inquiry.

The Trust's trustees meet to assess applications, and decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis depending on available funds and project fit.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, with an annual expenditure of £54,510 (2023-24) against an income of £186,731, the Trust maintains significant reserves while actively funding multiple projects simultaneously.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Applicants should inquire about this when making initial contact with the Trust.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and current funded projects, successful applications are likely to demonstrate:

Strong Fit with Medieval Focus: All funded projects focus squarely on late medieval England (particularly 1399-1525). The Trust states its purpose is "to further education, learning and research related to the history of late medieval England (and in particular the life & reign of King Richard III)."

Primary Source Scholarship: Current funded projects emphasize original archival research, document transcription, and publication of primary sources. Examples include accounts, journals, diplomatic documents, and medieval records.

Dissemination Plans: The Trust's mission includes disseminating research results “through commissioning, preparation and publication of books, documents and by such other means as the Trustees may at their discretion determine.” Applications should demonstrate plans for making research accessible.

Specific Research Expenses: The Trust welcomes applications for various project costs including:

• Archival research trips
• Imaging and digitization costs
• Permission fees
• Publication subsidies
• Translation and transcription work

Career Stage Inclusivity: The Trust explicitly welcomes applications from “postgraduate researchers, early career researchers, established academics, and independent researchers” - showing they value quality research regardless of institutional affiliation.

Alignment with Trust Publications: Reviewing the Trust's publication list (available on their website) can provide insight into the types of scholarship they value and support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Contact first: With application forms being redesigned, early contact with Dr. Richard Asquith via yorkisthistorytrust@gmail.com is essential to understand current procedures
• Tight chronological focus: Research must relate to late medieval England, particularly 1399-1525 and the Yorkist period
• Flexible funding amounts: Evidence suggests grants range from £250 conference bursaries to multi-thousand pound research grants, with flexibility based on project needs
• Support for various expenses: Don't limit requests to major research costs - the Trust explicitly supports ad hoc expenses like archival trips and imaging fees
• No institutional requirement: Independent researchers are explicitly welcomed alongside academics
• Publication emphasis: Strong preference for projects that will result in published scholarship accessible to broader audiences
• Consider the Richard III Society Bursary: Postgraduate students should also investigate the separate £1,000 bursary administered through IHR
• Anne F. Sutton Memorial Fund: This may represent an additional funding stream within the Trust for appropriate projects

References

• The Yorkist History Trust official website: https://yorkisthistorytrust.org/
• The Yorkist History Trust Grants page: https://yorkisthistorytrust.org/grants/
• Charity Commission Register, The Yorkist History Trust (327005): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=327005&subid=0
• The Anne F. Sutton Memorial Fund page: https://yorkisthistorytrust.org/the-anne-f-sutton-memorial-fund/
• Current Projects page: https://yorkisthistorytrust.org/current-projects/
• Grants Expert - Funding for Historical Research: http://www.grantsexpert.co.uk/funding-for-historical-research.html