## **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| |---|---| |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: - Overseeing the restoration works - Improving public access and appreciation - Administration, grants and finance - Land management - Community outreach - 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|| |---|---| |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.| |---|---| |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.| |---|---| |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.| |---|---| |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: