Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
Period start date 01/04/21 To Period end date 31/03/22
Charity name: Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust
Charity registration number: 1165749
Objectives and Activities
| Objectives and Activities | |
|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
To preserve for the benefit of the people of the Hamlet of Snodhill, the Parishes of Dorstone and Peterchurch, Herefordshire and the Nation ("the 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 activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
The aim of the charity is to rescue, restore and open up to the community for research, education and enjoyment the remains and site of Snodhill Castle – a little-known but highly significant Marcher castle set in Herefordshire’s Golden Valley. Decades-long neglect by its owners had led to the 10-acre site 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, obtaining ownership of it, then commence its rescue and restoration (including its landscape setting) for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of the community, the county and the nation. During the year in review the charity aimed to fulfil its objects by: - Inviting an organised archaeological excavation of the site bystudents from Manchester University,Cardiff University |
| and the American institute for Field Research (the ‘Beneath Hay Bluff’ project) - Involving the local community with the objects, including through social media and other local media - Inviting practical participation in the pursuit of those objects by regular volunteering sessions - Inviting participation in the objects through the ‘Friends of Snodhill Castle’ scheme - Recording the Trust’s activities through ‘The Turret’, our newsletter - Taking out appropriate liability insurances - Negotiating grants to assist in the pursuit of the objects – including reports to funders - Liaising with associated relevant conservation bodies, local and national |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued on Public Benefit through all the conduct and activities of the charity. Details of the activities of the Trust during the year are set out below. |
| Additional information (optional) You maychoose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You maychoose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | The charity does not grant funds |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
The charity has no investments |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
The ‘Beneath Hay Bluff’ project engaged 25 archaeology students, plus two archaeology professionals (including county archaeologist, Dr Tim Hoverd), contributing a total of 5,567 volunteer hours. Furthermore, the project increased understanding of the history of the castle – including the discovery of the Royal Free Chapel. The Trust runs volunteering sessions on a weekly 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 and accessible to visitors. Following Covid restrictions in 2020/21 we were pleased to see volunteer sessions return in 2021/22. These volunteers contributed 390 hours of work. During the year under review, volunteers contributed a total of 5,957 hours of work. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.
The charity has focused on six areas of activity:
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Overseeing the restoration works
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Improving public access and appreciation
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Administration, grants and finance
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Land management
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Community outreach
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Research and Investigation
1) Overseeing Restoration Work
The Trust continued to make progress in the investigation and restoration of the standing remains:
North Tower
Consolidation of the North Tower was completed in 2021 - all walls were repointed, repaired where necessary and capped. The Trust plan to install access stairs in the North Keep in 2022 which will allow the public to enter the tower.
High Keep
In the spring of 2021, the High Keep spiral staircase consolidation was completed, replica steps placed in position to protect the remains and marker stones laid to indicate the Keeps wall lines.
South Curtain Wall
A small section of the South Curtain wall was consolidated and partially rebuilt to create a safety barrier of walling across a small area of wall that had been left open.
South Rampart Restoration
No further work on the South Rampart in 2021 (more work in 2022 using Chapel spoil)
2) Improving Public Access and Appreciation
The site remained open (free of charge) throughout the year and proved a popular destination for castle enthusiasts, nature lovers, walkers, families and other locals. The noticeboard was updated regularly with news of recent discoveries, health and safety precautions, news and information leaflets. The Trust hosted a webinar ‘A Castle of Puzzles’ on 20/05/21. The event was hugely popular and tickets sold out. The event raised
income from the Trust and feedback from delegates was very positive. 2) Administration, Grants and Finance The Constables continued to meet on a regular basis (online and face-to-face) to track finances and to consider how to manage activities.
The website was overhauled to make it more accessible and appealing to visitors. The website has information on the history of the Castle, a picture gallery, information on how to get involved and a facility for online donations. A Mailchimp database is linked to the website to enable visitors to subscribe/unsubscribe to e- news and updates.
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.
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 390 hours during the permitted clearance season.
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 maintain riskfree access by archaeologists, historians, and the public.
It was decided not to bring sheep on site to graze as previous flocks 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. By March 2022, the Trust had 300 supporters (up from 200 the previous year). We held organised tours for the Woolhope Club and Eaton Camp Historical Society in in July. Also the Longtown and District Historical Society in February.
5) Research and Investigation
The Trust was delighted to solve the mystery of the location of the Royal Free Chapel of Snodhill in 2021. Snodhill's Royal Free Chapel is totally unique, it is the only Royal Chapel built inside a non-Royal (i.e. Lordship) Castle. How this came about is unknown, further research is needed.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
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|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
The Trust aimed to develop a funding strategy to cover insurance and other ongoing running costs (printing, website, weed spray etc). The sale of leaflets and gate donations produced a small but steady income. Tours and webinars were prioritised to generate income. Options to bestow ‘titles’ to significant donors were also explored e.g. Castle Champion |
| Investment performance against objectives |
The charity has no investments |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
The charity’s financial position during the year is set out in the attached Annual Accounts. Income was less than £25,000 and therefore did not meet the threshold for independent examination. |
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| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
The Trust maintained a balance of £10,000 as per its reserves policy. |
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| Amount of reserves held | £10,000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
There are no funds in deficit during the year in review |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
N/A |
| Additional information (optional) You maychoose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You maychoose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
The principal sources of funds in the period 2020/21 were donation membership income from the ‘Friends of Snodhill Castle’ scheme and earned income from the sale of leaflets, tours and webinar tickets. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
The Trust has no investments |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Public and employers’ liability insurance was taken out largely to protect the volunteers. Risk 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 |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: | |
|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any |
Elected and appointed by existing trustees |
constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
All new trustees are provided with a copy of the constitution, a copy of meeting minutes, 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. |
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| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
The charity is governed by a board of trustees, among whom certain management duties are undertaken by ‘Constables’: they are Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. Specific and time-limited projects are undertaken by Working Groups as necessary. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
The charity has informal links with the Dorstone History Society, the Longtown and District Historical Society, the Castle Studies Group, The Hay Festival, Kilvert Society, Wellington Historical Society, the Woolhope Club, the Sutton Walls Conservation Group, the Eaton Camp Historical Group and the Mortimer History Society. We have a close relationship with Historic England, and we aim to strengthen links with other like-minded bodies regionally, nationally and internationally. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | SCPT |
| Registered charity number | 1165749 |
| Charity’s principal address | The Green, Snodhill, Dorstone, Herefordshire HR3 6BH |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| s of the charity trustees | who manage the charity | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
| Garry Crook | Chair | ||
| Bridie Sullivan | Secretary | ||
| Surrey Garland | Treasurer | ||
| Nick Longman | Vice-Chair | ||
| Bridget Knight | |||
| Louise McIntyre | |||
| Ruth Woolmer | |||
| Susannah Garland | |||
| Kate Hayward | |||
| Jade Leigh-Beresford | |||
| Joe Emmett | |||
| Tom Oliver | |||
| Sarah Lewis | 10/08/2022 | ||
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 held in this capacity |
N/A |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
N/A |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation |
N/A |
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, Chair, Secretary Treasurer etc) Date 29 January 2023
Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust Accounts ril 2021- 4th th ril 2022 11 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OPENING BALANCES: Current account- Savings account- TOTAL. £ 7.471.64 £21,915.65 £29,387.29 INCOME.. Interest Donations (friends, jam jar) Events TOTAL INCOME: £1.19 £1.773.31 £852.78 £2.627.28 EXPENDITURE: Insurance {Hayes Parsons) Book keeping (Sarah Halliday) £411.57 £120.00 Restoration.. Stone Ma50n (Masons Yard) Nick Lane Conservation (Oliver Fookesl £336.00 £430.00 £13.796.30 TOTAL EXPENDITURE: £15.093.87 EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME £12.466.59 BALANCE AT YEAR END £16,920.70
2) BALANCE SHEET FIXED ASSETS Land and buildings DEPRECIATION £1.00 VALUE OF FIXED ASSErs £1.00 CURRENT ASSErs Bank account- current Bank account-savings Cash Amount receivable Prepayments £6,919.86 £10,000.84 £0.00 £0.00 TOTAL CURRENT ASSErs: £16 920.70 LESS CURRENT UABILITIES: BBQ monies owed to SG Oliver Fookes retention £54.76 £724.70 TOTAL LIABILITIES: NEf ASSEfs AT 04 2022: £16 141.24 NOTES: SIGNED: 5URREY GARLAND, TREASURER SIGNED.. BRIDIE SULLIVAN, SECREfARY DATE: