MANCHESTER HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST (A company Ilmltad by guarantse) ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 312024 3578992 ehwlty 1080606 W4NCHEgTEA H18TOAIC 8UILDINQ8 TRibY ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEIIENTS FOR THE YEAR ENOED OCTOBER 812024 INDEX AdrywnistratNe Informathon Ttystees. and Diwtors annLoI rer lTh*pendenl examiner5. rèp Group stalernenl of ￿11￿￿e¥ Ghanty statement of finantsal acbwl Group belar￿ sheet 10 Chanty ￿lanCE shÉ•t Group and Charity sialen￿ts ofcash lkns 12 Notes to the fina￿￿ state%)wts 13-23 MANCHESTER HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST ADMINisfRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED I)GT08ER J121Y24 PRESIDENT J R Allan DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES A Walker Ichairl D Duffy J Baxter A Higgin5 Irestgned 0611or241 L Collins Iresoned C￿1101?0) Eyre (res￿r￿d 06110r241 D Jarvis (resigned &S1101241 L Burns (resigned 231011251 K Rodwell lappoinlerj 261091241 S McGoldrick lappoinled 06110124) H Riches (appointed J6110Q41 L Leonard lappoinled ffi1101241 Camw3th iappointed XI101241 A Boylan jappoinled 06110124. ￿oned 0510sr25) R PalmÈr (appointed 28111124) R Rofifah lapp04ntwJ 28111124) COMPANY SECRETARY A Higgin5 IresKJned CA1101241 Carrwalh lappoinied fN101241 REGISTERED OFFICE & PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS 84 Plymouth Glove Manchester IA13 9LW INDEPENDENT EXAMINER & ACCOUNTANTS Stacy Mason FCCA e*A Accountsnts & Financial Consultants Ltd U3 Phtttenden Horbey - Chartered Ar£ountants Hyde Park House Carfv4ri9ht Street Hyde SK14 4EH BANKERS CAF Bank - OFeratsve Bank SOLICITORS DTM Legal LLP The Plaza 100 Okl A•ll Stwt l Jvprpool L3 9QJ AIANCHESTER HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST TRUSTEES. AND DIRECTORS. ANNUAL REpoKr FOR THEYEAR ENDED OCT08ER 312024 The Iruslees present their annual report together wrth the consolidated financial statements ol the chgrity and ils subsidiary company for the year ended October 31 2024 which are alsc prepared to meet the requifemenls for a direclofs, report and accolinls lor Companies 3Ct purposes_ REPORTING FRAMEWORK The financial stalemenls comply with the Charities Act 2011. the Companies Act 20C6. the Articles. and Accoun11ng and Reporting by Charities Slalement of Recommended Practice applicable lo charit￿$ preparing Iheir accounts In accordance w51h the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Irelan¢ IFRS1021 (effective 1 January 20191. ￿terred lo as the Charities SORP IFRS 1021 Isecond edition- October 20191. OBJECTIVES Charitabje objects The objec15 of the Charity are. To preserve for the benefit of the people Manchester and of the Nation. thÈ historical, liler8ry, architeetural and constructional heritage associated with 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester I'The House'l the former home of William and Elizabeth Gaskell lincluding any stfuclure or erect￿n, and any part of the building as so defined) and lo advance the education of the public in the said heritage and lo undertake such other charitable adivilies as may benefit the people ol or visitors lo the said County of Greater Manchester. To acquire, preserve. document. inlerprel and make accessib￿ exhibits. objeds and collections relating lo Ihe literary, social and historical impacl and influence of Elizabelh Gaskell and her family and io the history of the House through provision of s tnu5eurn service for the purpose of educating and informing the public. (Adopted September 2020) Activitie$ The Chaiity fulfils ils objectives through the resloralion of Elizabeth Gaskell House and its operatr.on as a museum and visitcsr attractton. Elizabeth Gaskell s House is a restored Grade Il. regency style historic House in Manchester. home lo the Victonan author Elizabeth Gaskell and her family. This house is important bec311se of its association with the writer who lived here from 1850-S5. and members ol her family who continued lo occupy It until 1913. Elizabeth Gaskell was one of the foremost nineteenth ￿rntUry writers whose work has 3 continuing appeal and is regulaity performed on 51age. screen and radio and published worldwide in numerous Irgnslalions. Her husband William. Ministef al Manchester s Unitarian Cross Sireel Chapel, and their daughters were deepty, Involved in the cultural and educational life of the city. 50 Ihe individual contnbub.ons which they 83ch made are all iefleeted in the way the house is Interpreted_ The core aclivilies of the charity are.. Protecting and promoling the unKiue lrterary ano cuAuTal heritage of the Holise and rts Vi511ors Playing a key role. as the only literary house. in Manchester s UNESCO City of Literature partnership Being a unique example of a Viclonan middle-class house in Manchester Celebrating the life and literature of Elizabeth Gaskell and her relevance today Valuing and promoting the Gaskell lamity s role In the history of Manehesler al￿ Afth"ck. Supporting local groups. ￿sIdents ana schools to use and value the House and ts heritage. ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS In October 2024 we reached the 1Ckyear anniversary of opening to the public following the testoralion of Ihe House lo reflect how it wouid hJve been whe.n the Gaskell family lived in it. and to present nfomalion about Elizabeth Gaskell and her work. From Octo￿r 2024- October 2025 we will be marking the anniversary wrth special d￿playS and activities. Between November 202i and Octobèr 2024- We welcomed S.OOC visitors to the House overall. up by 30k on last year. We delivered 4., onlino talks. workshops discu5sion5. book groups and tours. wth mr 3.300 participants over the year. Online audience numbers are up by 270/0 year on year. We gave 22 private lour5 to gioups and secondary schools. We welcomed 8 primary school sessions. including 6 sessions from Pfimary schools In the M13 postcode area. We hosfed 21 weddings MANCHESTER HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST TRUSTEES, AND OIRECTORS, ANNUAL REpoKr FOR ThE YEAR ENDED OCTO8ER 312024 We launched our 10-ye3r annNersary ￿lebra110n$ for 2024125 with a new exhibition and event in Octtsber 2024. The Garden won a Gold Award In the RHS 8iitain in Bloom awards in the Small Visitor Attraction balegory fDT 'he second year running. Satisfied visitors and the quality ol the Wisilor offer are vital to the Jngoing success of the House. We are Cf>mmitted lo maintaining high level ol cuslomei care and ?roviding ongoing training opportunities for all staff and 'iolunteers and making physical improvements In lerms of access and Interp￿tatIon. We regularly ask our visrtOTS and online 3udiefi￿s what we can do tsetter and slrive lo make these changes where we can. Our TripAdvi50r iCQfe 15 4.7 out of i, wrth oisitOTS remarkir¥J on tsoth the quality uf the House as a museurn and Ihe warm welcome Irom our knowledgeable 4olvnleers. )ur Dwn research Shows 810/0 ol visitors rate their experience as ex￿lient and 17% rate il as gocmy. 95% of vtsftoTS rate the welcome by volunteers and staff as excellent. We scored 86% sn tsur 2024 Visitor Attractions Quality Assurance Scheme IVAQASI Kispection from Visit England. This inspecbon scheme looks at everything from pre-visit Infornation online to the de3nliness of the toilets. as N¥ell as general customer servi￿. All the areas were scored very good or ax￿lIent. Our on-line programrne, launched during the pandemic. conbnues io grow 4Jith tslks aiiracting participants from all Dver the UK and from ELJrope and North America. ¥Ne have continued lo develop partnerships with other 2rganisalions. These have Included partnership events with The 8ronte Parsonage, the Portico Library in Manchester. Jane Austen's House. The Dickens Fellowship and Chawton House In Hampshire. The Tea Room development group which con51sts of staff and volunleets. Jnlinues lo sxplore Nays lo Increase S￿nd whilst maintaining high standards of hygiene and food safety. We trial rew shop stock including jewellery. prints and new fjook editions. The monthly %econd-hand book sales continue to do well. Okjr temporary exhibition Tales of Manchesler Life - clszabelh Gaskells Manchester. April 2024 September 2024. raxplored how Elizabeth Gaskell presented Manchester and rts people ihrough her novels and short storie5. The research lor the exhibition was carried out iy a ieam of volunteers. and to bring their findings lo life the exhibition inclLtdes 1nteracbve and hands-on leatures and a map of Manchester In 1848 highlighting some of the locations that inspirecl some of the *ttings and atorylines that Elizabeth pursued such as the Mechanics, Institute, Angel Sheadows and Hulme Barracks. A tea party comer is an important reminder from Mary Barton that working-class life during the induslnal revolution W¢15 not Jne dimensional. We developed Jur I￿year anniversary programme with a new exhibition. From Dereliction lo Delight. which opened in October 2024 lellino Ihe story of how the House. as one of Manchester's I￿st important htstoric cultural venues. was saved. The exhibition èxplores the building's ￿SloratIOn and launch as è cultural attraction and contsnues Io iale 2025. Kids In Museums @stablighe(I the 'Engaging your First Young Trvslees Programme in partnership with Up Start Projects lo address the lack of representation of young ?e0p￿ on museum boards_ Research showed that young people don't le25 ￿L(seUmS are lor them In early 2024 we were selected lo join the orogramwne which provides additional support. mentoring and training to both the urganisalion and the Young Truvtees. In November 2024 we will welcome Rose Palmer and Rana Rofifah Into new roles as Young Trustee5 Qn our Board. They )nng new lived expe￿en￿. skills and Trew perspectives lo the goveir1clll￿ of the House. This snitialive Is part ol a wider remit that will see the House engaging ￿1th new and youngei audiences as Il develops over tha next decade. Friends ol Elizabeth Gaskell's House wère Invited for a second year to sponsor books Wrth an ..Thdividual Jonatson to cover the Cost of much ne8dod repairs. The repaired books are )n display with bookplates in the Study for all vi51tors lo a￿ss. A quinquenni81 review of ihe buikling ias given us an iThlicabon of Wofks i&ety lo be needed to bg carned Jul in the next few.￿0r5 bul fortunately Aothing major Is aThticipaled at this time. Partnership¥ The museum is part of the Manchester UNESCO City ol Litefature.