## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**Period start date 01/04/20 To Period end date 31/03/21**
**Charity name: Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust**
## **Charity registration number: 1165749**
## **Objectives and Activities**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Summary of the To preserve for the benefit of the people of the
purposes of the charity Hamlet of Snodhill, the Parishes of Dorstone and
as set out in its Peterchurch, Herefordshire and the Nation ("the
governing document beneficiaries"), the historic, architectural and
constructional heritage that exists in and around the
Castle of Snodhill ("the area of benefit") in buildings
(including any building as defined in Section 336 of
the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) of particular
beauty or historical, architectural or constructional
interest, including but without limiting the generality
of the foregoing acquiring, renovating, restoring and
utilising for the benefit of the beneficiaries the
structure, curtilages, site and environs of Snodhill
Castle, Snodhill , Herefordshire and to educate the
general public in the geography, history, natural
history, architecture and economic and social history
of the area of benefit ("the Objects")"
Summary of the main The aim of the charity is to rescue, restore and open
activities in relation to up to the community for research, education and
those purposes for the
enjoyment the remains and site of Snodhill Castle – a
public benefit, in
little-known but highly significant Marcher castle set
particular, the activities,
in Herefordshire’s Golden Valley. Decades-long
projects or services
identified in the neglect by its owners had led to the 10-acre site
accounts. becoming impassably overgrown, leaving the castle’s
standing remains perilously close to collapse and
loss. Thanks to the persistent lobbying of a few
individuals, English Heritage and latterly Historic
England were drawn to the plight of this unique
structure and temporary works were undertaken;
while the local community and enthusiasts assembled
a Trust to start clearing the site, obtain ownership of
it, and commence its rescue and restoration
(including its landscape setting) for the enjoyment
and enrichment of the community, the county and
the nation.
During the year in review the charity continued to
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
pursue its Objects despite the Covid-19 pandemic
and the nationwide lockdown necessarily curtailing
the scope of its activities.
-
We continued to involve the local community
with the objects, including through contact with
the media
-
We maintained as far as was possible practical
participation in the pursuit of those objects
through regular volunteering sessions
-
We maintained contact with our supporters
through the ‘Friends’ scheme and the
continued publication of ‘The Turret’, our
newsletter
-
We reviewed our visitor arrangements in the
context of pandemic restrictions and kept
regular contact with our liability insurers
-
We maintained our fund raising activity,
seeking donations and grants to assist in the
pursuit of the objects – including reports to
funders
- We continued to work with relevant
conservation bodies, local and national
Statement confirming Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued on
whether the trustees Public Benefit through all the conduct and activities of
have had regard to the the charity. Details of the activities of the Trust
guidance issued by the during the year are set out below.
Charity Commission on
public benefit
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policy on grant making The charity does not grant funds
Policy on social The charity has no investments
investment including
program related
investment
Contribution made by The Trust runs volunteering sessions on a weekly
volunteers basis throughout the autumn, winter and early
spring. After decades of neglect and overgrowth the
effort of the volunteers has had an enormous impact
on the site in terms of clearing the overgrowth and
making the castle once again visible on the
landscape. Covid restrictions limited volunteer
activities for the period 2020/21 and volunteer hours
were down from the previous period (368 in
2019/20). During the year under review volunteers
contributed 250 hours of work.
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Achievements and Performance**
Summary of the main The charity has continued to focus on our areas of achievements of the activity: charity, identifying the - Overseeing the restoration works difference the charity’s - Research, investigation and excavation work has made to the - Improving public access and appreciation circumstances of its - Administration, grants and finance beneficiaries and any - Land management wider benefits to society - Community outreach as a whole. **1) Overseeing Restoration Work** The Trust continued to make progress in the investigation and restoration of the standing remains, specifically: **North Tower** In early 2020 the excavations of the North Keep were completed. After lockdown restrictions eased, consolidation of the Keep recommenced through late summer until the autumn of 2020 when work on the Keep halted and the remains were protected from the winter weather. Work is due to resume in Spring 2021. **High Keep**
Plans to consolidate and put on display the High Keep spiral staircase and mark out the Keeps entrance with carefully placed stones were postponed from 2020 into 2021. **South Curtain Wall** A small 10m portion of the wall had not been fully conserved in previous work and in 2020 this was completed, with the wall consolidated and softcapped. **South Rampart Restoration** The surplus soil from the North Keep excavations was used to restore the defensive bank on the south of the castle that had been eroded over the centuries and exposed the foundations of the South Curtain wall. Careful placement of the soil has completely restored the defensive bank and secured the foundations of the walls above. The completion of the South Curtain Wall project and landscaping was marked in November 2020, and recorded in The Turret, our newsletter. **2) Improving public access and appreciation** The site remained open (free of charge) throughout the national lockdown and proved a popular destination and rest spot for locals. Signs were installed at the entrance reminding visitors to take the necessary Covid precautions. The Trust hosted its first webinar ‘How to Save a
Castle’ on 25/03/21. The event was hugely popular and tickets sold out. The event raised income from the Trust (which accrued in the next financial year) and feedback from delegates was very positive. The notice board was periodically updated with news of recent restoration works and discoveries. **2) Administration, grants and finance** The Trust appointed General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith KCB CBE ADC Gen as Patron of the Trust. The Constables continued to meet on a regular basis both in distanced meetings and online to track finances and manage activities (including fundraising) during the pandemic. The Trust maintained a website providing information on the history of the castle, a picture gallery, forthcoming events and information on how to become a ‘Friend’. Website visitors are encouraged to become a ‘Friend’. The Trust continued to take measures to ensure it was compliant with General Data Protection Regulation. The Trust continued to maintain a good working relationship with Historic England. During the year in review, the Trust raised donations of £3148.00 and maintained a reserve of £10,000. Detailed figures are to be found in the Annual Accounts. **3) Land Management** Under the management of Nick Longman (Vice Chairman and volunteer manager) a regular team of volunteers met weekly to clear the brash and overgrowth at the castle site. The clearance work paid due regard to the preservation of the diverse ecology of the site. Selective clearing, felling, burning and brash removal meant erecting fire platforms clear of the ground on this archaeologically sensitive site. The volunteers contributed 250 hours during the permitted clearance season (whilst adhering to socially distanced Covid rules) and by their efforts the final grant money made over to the Trust via a Management Agreement with Historic England was able to be applied to maximum effect in specialist activities such as spraying, felling and lopping that the volunteers are not qualified or insured to undertake. The Trust continued in its efforts to restore the site to a combination of woodland, woodland grazing and cropped turf against which the ruins might be best
displayed, and to maintain safe and secure access by archaeologists, historians, and the public. It was decided not to bring sheep on site to graze as the previous year’s flock had trampled some of the turf capping. Sheep grazing continues to be kept under review. Badger activities continued to be monitored around the site (under the supervision of a professional ecologist and under licence from Natural England). Little or no activity was recorded. **4) Community Outreach** The Trust has an established ‘Friends of Snodhill Castle’ scheme. For an annual fee of £10 per annum members can hear about events, activities at the castle and support the work of the Trust. During the year under review the Trustees considered strategies for recruiting new members to the scheme. The Trust now has 200 supporters. In September 2020 the Trust hosted a socially distanced visit by the West Midlands Conservation Architects group. The fourth issue of The Turret, the Trust’s newsletter, was produced and distributed in November 2020. **5) Research and Investigation** The discovery of the North Keep in 2019/20 triggered research to discover if other similar towers existed. Research in 2020 found that there were only 5 other such towers in the country (Chepstow, Montgomery, Wilton, Cardigan, Helmsley Castles) and all of these towers were earlier (13[th] Century) than Snodhill’s North Keep which appears to be the last of its type (14[th] Century) and is thus the only Motte and Bailey Castle in the country with a tower such as this.
## **Additional information (optional)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against The primary objectives of the Trust were to:
objectives set - Keep the site open, attractive and safe for visitors
throughout the national lockdown.
Performance of - The Trust maintained a funding strategy to cover
fundraising activities insurance and other ongoing running costs, as well as
against objectives set to raise funds for specific projects. The sale of
leaflets and gate donations produced a small but
steady income which contributed to running costs
during the year and tours and webinars were a new
initiative which have proved popular and effective.
Options to bestow ‘titles’ to significant donors were
also explored and the castle awarded its first
‘Champion’ (a donor of £2000 or more) during the
year.
Investment performance The charity has no investments
against objectives
**----- End of picture text -----**
Other
## **Financial Review**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Review of the charity’s The charity’s financial position during the year is set
financial position at the out in the attached Annual Accounts, but ended the
end of the period year in question with a modest but healthy surplus.
Statement explaining The Trust maintained a balance of £10,000 as per its
the policy for holding reserves policy.
reserves stating why
they are held
Amount of reserves held £10,000
Reasons for holding zero N/A
reserves
Details of fund materially There are no funds in deficit during the year in review
in deficit
Explanation of any N/A
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a
going concern
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal The principal sources of funds in the period 2020/21
sources of funds were donations from individuals and groups,
(including any membership income from the ‘Friends of Snodhill
fundraising) Castle’ scheme and earned income from the sale of
leaflets.
Investment policy and The Trust has no investments
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted
A description of the Public and employers’ liability insurance was taken
principal risks facing the out to protect volunteers and visitors. Risk
charity assessments and method statements have been
prepared to cover this activity. The use of chainsaws
was restricted to those qualified to use them, and the
site’s co-ordinates are known to the emergency
services.
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Description of charity’s trusts:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Type of governing Constitution
document
(trust deed, royal
charter)
How is the charity Charitable Incorporated Organisation
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection Elected and appointed by existing trustees
methods including
details of any
constitutional provisions
e.g. election to post or
name of any person or
body entitled to appoint
one or more trustees
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures All new trustees are provided with a copy of the
adopted for the constitution, a copy of meeting minutes, access to all
induction and training of the Trust’s documents via a shared network (Dropbox),
trustees a link to the Charity Commission’s guidance on
becoming a trustee (The Essential Trustee) as well as
an opportunity to have a guided tour of the castle.
The charity’s The charity is governed by a board of trustees, among
organisational structure whom certain management duties are undertaken by
and any wider network ‘constables’: they are Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and
with which the charity Secretary. Specific and time-limited projects are
works undertaken by Working Groups as necessary.
The Trust was saddened to record the death of
Vanessa Hembling, Trustee, in December 2020.
Relationship with any The charity has informal links with the Dorstone
related parties History Society, the Longtown and District Historical
Society, the Castle Studies Group, The Hay Festival,
Kilvert Society, Wellington Historical Society, the
Woolhope Club and the Sutton Walls Conservation
Group.
We have a close relationship with Historic England, and
we aim to strengthen links with other like-minded
bodies regionally, nationally and internationally.
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Reference and Administrative details**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity name The Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust
Other name the charity SCPT
uses
Registered charity 1165749
number
**----- End of picture text -----**
Charity’s principal The Green, address Snodhill, Dorstone, Herefordshire HR3 6BH
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Dates acted Name of person (or
Trustee name Office (if any) if not for body) entitled to
whole year appoint trustee (if any)
1 Garry Crook Chair
2 Bridie Sullivan Secretary
3 Surrey Garland Treasurer
4 Nick Longman Vice-Chair
5 Bridget Knight
6 Louise McIntyre
7 Ruth Woolmer
Susannah
8
Garland
9 Kate Hayward
Jade Leigh-
10
Beresford
11 Joe Emmett
12 Tom Oliver
13
14
**----- End of picture text -----**
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements N/A for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustee**
# **Signature(s)**
Surrey Garland **Full name(s)** Bridie Sullivan
**Position (eg** Secretary **Secretary, Chair, etc)**
Treasurer
**Date** 17[th] January 2022
Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust
Accounts
ril 2020- 4th A
th
ril 2021
11 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
OPENING BALANCES:
Current account:
Savings account:
TOTAL:
£226.01
£71,617.57
£71.843.58
INCOME:
Interest
Donations (friends, jam jarl
RPA ILEADERI grant
Events
Refund re duplication of expenses to SG
TOTAL INCOME:
£26.61
£3,898.00
£5,350.00
£7.04
£168.38
£9,450.83
EXPENDITURE:
Insurance (Hayes Parsons}
Ground maintenance
Architects fees INick Joyce)
£566.55
£215.00
£2,703.62
Restoration..
Stone Mason (Masons Yard)
Hereford archaeology (Tim Hoverdl
Conservation building (Oliver Fookesl
£1,680.00
£7,850.00
£38.891.95
TOTAL EXPENDITURE:
£51,907.12
EXCE55 OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME
£42,456.29
BALANCE AT YEAR END
£29,387.29
21 BALANCE SHEET
FIXED ASSErs
Land and buildings
DEPRECIATION
£1.00
VALUE OF FIXED ASSErs
£1.00
CURRENT ASSETS
Bank account- current
Bank account- savings
Cash
Amount receivable
Prepayments
£7,471.64
£21,915.65
£0.00
£0.00
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS:
£29 387.29
LESS CURRENT LIABIUTIES:
£0.00
TOTAL LIABILITIE5:
£0.00
NET ASSETS AT 04
2021:
£29 387.29
SIGNED-
SURREY GARLAND. TREASURER
SIGNED:
BRIDIE SULLIVAN, SECRETARY
DATE: