Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
Company 00038346 Charity 224083 www.yahs.org.uk email: office@yahs.org.uk
## YORKSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
## **PATRONS**
LORD CRATHORNE MR SEBASTIAN FATTORINI LORD HOPE OF THORNES
THE MOST REVEREND & RIGHT HONOURABLE
DR JOHN SENTAMU
## **PRESIDENT**
D. ASQUITH
## **HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS**
P.V. ADDYMAN S. THOMAS
## **VICE-PRESIDENTS**
M.J.HERON R. MORRIS
## **MANAGEMENT BOARD**
D. ASQUITH B. BARBER
G. BRANNAN (from 24 October 2020)
D. BREAR D. BUCK
M. CHASE (until 29 Febuary 2020) G. COOKSON
C. DEAN (from 24 October 2020)
A. GIBSON (from 24 October 2020)
R. HOYLE (from 24 October 2020)
A. MULLER I. ROBERTS S. THOMAS M. TYLEE
## ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2020
|**ANNUAL REPORT**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|The Society|1|
|Review of the year|2|
|Membership report|3|
|We collect|4|
|We publish|6|
|We meet, we learn|9|
|We give|16|
|We communicate|18|
|Accounts|21|
|**ACCOUNTS**||
|Trustees' report|2|
|Examiner's report|6|
|Statement of financial activities|7|
|Balance sheet|8|
|Notes to the accounts|9 - 14|
## The Society
## **Objects**
" _The examination, preservation and illustration of the History, Architecture, Antiquities, Manners, Customs and Traditions of the historic county of York."_
To this end we collect, we publish, we meet, we learn, we communicate and we give
## **Operation**
The Society is a charity run by an elected Management Board who are its Trustees.
## **Enquiries**
The Society's registered office is in Leeds but is not open to visitors. Our website provides several ways to contact the Society according to the nature of your particular enquiry. Alternatively please write to:
The Honorary General Secretary, Yorkshire Archaeological & Historical Society, Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street LEEDS LS10 2QW
## **489**
MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY
## **518**
COMBINED MEMBERSHIP OF OUR FIVE SPECIALIST SECTIONS
## **593**
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO PUBLICATIONS (THE SOCIETY'S JOURNAL, THE RECORD SERIES AND THE WAKEFIELD COURT ROLLS SERIES COMBINED)
## **E: secretary@yahs.org.uk**
1
## Review of the year
As serving President of the Society I have pleasure in presenting our Annual Report and Accounts for 2020.
Reluctant as I am to mention what everyone already knows and is probably tired of hearing about, 2020 will go down in history as the year disrupted by Covid-19. As noted repeatedly in other pages of this document, most if not all of our activities were affected adversely. To some degree at least, online lectures and business meetings have saved the day and may become a reagular and convenient feature of life in future, although it has to be acknowledged that the social contact offerred by such events can be sorely missed. Reviving this will be important when public health conditions allow.
Two short conferences due to take place in 2020 at Leeds and Hull to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the late Professor Maurice Beresford, a leading member and benefactor of the Society, had of course to be postponed. Plans are however being laid for alternative events to take place as soon as restrictions are lifted.
An important side-effect of the frustrations of 2020 was a further surplus of income over expenditure, as shown in the Accounts pages of this report. Two major projects relating to our library and archive collections seem unlikely to spring into life even in 2021 so other relatively short term commitments, such as those for which the Grants Scheme is intended, or other activities within the scope of volunteer-power available to the Society, present no financial worries.
Lastly, I should like to record the Society's appreciation of the efforts of all those individuals who give their time and skills freely to sustain its lectures, publications and other activities, and all those others who support the Society through their membership and other subscriptions.
## **DAVID ASQUITH President**
**2**
## Membership report
Just under 50 new members joined the Society in 2020 but, sadly, 6 members died.
Despite the continued lack of an Membership Secretary, due to the hard work of the Society's freelance administrative support worker, Cathy Hughes, a new membership database was put in place. This provides a more accurate record of membership but some data for section-only members are not yet held centrally in all cases. One side effect of implementing the new database has been a reduction in the number of fully paid up YAHS members.
In the table below, it is likely that institutions subscribing to the YAJ through publishers Taylor & Francis are under-represented, since the Society has limited direct interaction with the institutions. It is hoped that steps can be taken in the coming year to improve the data in question.
Data is shown below for the first time in relation to subscribers to the Record Series and the Wakefield Court Rolls. Many of these subscribers also subscribe to the main YAHS and the figures are therefore of course not simply additive to the others above them.
|**NUMBER OF MEMBERS**|**31/12/2020**|31/12/2019|
|---|---|---|
|Full with YAJ (life)|**10**|15|
|Full with YAJ|**325**|328|
|Full without YAJ|**154**|180|
|Affiliated Societies|**26**|25|
|Institutions|**57**|61|
|Record Series|**72**||
|Wakefield Court Rolls|**50**||
**Dr DAVID BUCK Honorary General Secretary**
3
## We collect
The year began on an encouraging note, as the Brotherton Library appointed a member of staff to continue cataloguing the open access books of the YAHS library, a task for which the Society has agreed to provide the funds. Unfortunately, of course, work came to a temporary halt after a month because of the Covid restrictions. A scoping survey has also been carried out on behalf of the Society by West Yorkshire Archive Service’s Chief Conservator in order to assess the extent and potential cost of conserving the remaining court rolls of the manor of Wakefield. This will be a very large undertaking for which major grant aid will be required, and it is intended to begin a fundraising campaign when circumstances permit.
The Society was very fortunate to receive generous support from the Victoria and Albert Purchase Grants Fund and the Friends of the National Libraries, with donations from Society members also, to purchase at auction a memorandum book of John Brearley of Wakefield, cloth frizzer. This important item, dating from 1772-3, complements the two other Brearley memoranda books
held by Leeds City Archives and published in the YAHS Record Series (Vol 155).
4
## _We collect_
Thanks are also due to Professor Richard Hoyle for looking after this purchase, and making digital images.
According to the auctioneers, the vendor told them that the volume had been 'found
inside a concealed cupboard behind a fireplace which was discovered during a house demolition’ in Leeds, possibly during the 1930's.
Access to the Special Collections has been very limited this year, but the University of Leeds has received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and other grants to extend and improve the research centre, including the storage facilities for our collections. Generous donations to the Society's library holdings were made by a number of members.
## **SYLVIA THOMAS**
## **Honorary Collections Liaison Officer**
5
## We publish
Apart from the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, only two YAHS volumes are nearing publication: the Yorkshire Historical Dictionary, which will be published in 2021 in the Record Series through Boydell & Brewer, and Volume 21 of the Wakefield Court Rolls for the years 2020-21, also due to be published in 2021.
Publication sales have been steady during the year, but more of the monographs in the Yorkshire Archaeology Reports and Occasional Papers series are now out of print. Perhaps the most notable is Occasional Paper 3, The Archaeology of Yorkshire: an assessment at the beginning of the 21st century, published in 2003. Arrangements are in hand for this to become the first of the out of print monographs to be digitised for free download from the society’s website. This volume sprang from the Yorkshire archaeological research framework conference held in Ripon in 1998.
As such, the papers provide baseline assessments and research objectives, as then perceived, for all the main periods and a number of thematic studies. In order to make the digitised research volume more relevant twenty years on, many of the original authors, and a number of proxies (13 in total) have agreed to write short commentaries to be inserted into the original volume. These will detail changes in interpretation and perception over the last 17 years, highlighting key investigations, studies and publications. It is anticipated that the digitisation will be available in the summer of 2021
## **IAN ROBERTS Honorary Publications Officer**
6
## _We publish_
## **The Record Series**
Work continued during 2020 to bring the Yorkshire Historical Dictionary closer to publication as volume 166 in the Record Series. This will be a substantial and iconic volume, and a fitting tribute to Dr George Redmonds whose life's work is encapsulated in the dictionary.
Other volumes in preparation include the Metham Chartulary, the Fountains Abbey rental, Letters of William Rooth of Wakefield 1804-1829, Northallerton Court Rolls and the Hull Bench Book.
During the year Dr Brian Barber and Mr Chris Watson took up the posts of honorary editor and honorary assistant editor respectively.
## **Dr DAVID BUCK Secretary to the Record Series Committee**
## **The Wakefield Court Rolls Series**
Volume 20 in the series appeared in 2019, and preparations for the next volume, scheduled for publication in the autumn of 2021, are well advanced. An important feature of the forthcoming volume will be Christopher Watson’s edition of the newly-identified manorial account roll for 1265-66. Its most arresting feature is the references to the baronial wars of the period. An illustration from the account roll appears here which shows several of the entries which create its unusual interest. One reads:
_‘£6 7s 10 ½ d expenses of the same William and the garrison more than the store, from the aforesaid Monday until the Monday next after St. Michael's day for 20 weeks in the first of which Sir John de Eyvile, John de la Haye, Richard de Seex, Simon son of Simon, John de Sothulle and Robert de Willeby with many others attacked the castle [at Sandal, near Wakefield], on account of fear of whom, there was always afterwards a great garrison in the castle, and moreover on account of Sir John de Sothulle who vigilantly watched over the castle when he was alive’._
7
## _We publish_
## _**The Wakefield Court Rolls Series continued**_
Another, just below, itemises the cost of a gruesome outcome:
_‘£4 15s 2d expenses of Thomas Rag, John de Danesfeud, John de Ecleshille and many others pursuing Sir John de Sothulle to his death’._
Volume 21 in 2021 will be the last in this series of publications as continuing to produce new volumes every two years can no longer be guaranteed. In future, volumes will appear at irregular intervals in the Record Series as editors come forward. The Management Board would like to offer its sincere thanks to the many subscribers, some of very long standing, who have sustained the series in its successful work and will inform them when any future volume appears in the Society’s Record Series
## **Dr BRIAN BARBER**
## **General Editor, Wakefield Court Rolls**
_Speed, 1610. Suthill, home of the unfortunate Sir John, is near the centre of the map_
8
## We meet, we learn
## **PREHISTORY RESEARCH SECTION**
In our 75th year (since our re-founding in 1946), total membership was 129, comprising 98 YAHS, 17 Section-only, 10 Institutional and 4 Honorary members. Coronavirus-related restrictions led to the cancellation of our Spring meeting, our summer visits and Autumn Joint Meeting with The Prehistoric Society. AGM papers were circulated for members’ feedback.
Prehistoric Yorkshire No. 58 was circulated in December. Our meeting on 5th December was held using Zoom, and our Web Officer and Chair are to be congratulated for organising this event, registering 53 participants (a record number), and attracting a wider audience than just Section members, to hear a talk by Dr Mike Copper on ‘The Mysterious Neolithic Islets of the Outer Hebrides’.
_The Unstan Bowl in Loch Arnish, near Stornoway. © Chris Murray_
Grants given by the Section supported ADS archiving of six lithic collections (£1,383). In addition, commitments were made for isotope analysis on an EBA burial on Baildon Moor (£408) and for two C14 dates for a Mesolithic site at Esklets (£590) – both projects delayed by Covid-19 limitations
_continues_
9
## _We meet, we learn_
## _**Prehistory Research Section continued**_
Aerial Photography Committee funds (£1,020) were used to create an interactive map, launched in April 2020 on the YAHS website, to promote the A. L. Pacitto Collection of air photographs. (See: https://www.yas.org.uk/Collections/Aerial-photograph-Collections)
Research and recording added 225 querns to the **Yorkshire Quern Survey** archive and 28 queries from the public were answered. YQS reports were included in two major publications and three other reports are scheduled for publication in 2021. An annual report on YQS activity during 2020 was emailed to Section members in November.
## **JOHN CRUSE Section Honorary General Secretary and Treasurer**
10
## _We meet, we learn_
## **ROMAN ANTIQUITIES SECTION**
After our regular meetings in January and March on potential pre-Flavian occupation of Yorkshire and the London Mithraeum, the programme resumed online in the autumn, with a lecture on Petuaria and we look forward to our programme of lectures through 2021. These online lectures attracted a wider than usual audience and we were able to welcome participants from further afield who would not normally be able to attend at Swarthmore.
Our Editor continued to produce regular newsletters, with Roman Yorkshire now up to Issue 9. These are distributed electronically. While the present virusaffected situation lasts, we will continue meeting online, and can only apologise to those members who are unable to join in. It is to be hoped that the situation will resolve itself soon and we can resume live meetings again later in 2021.
## **JO HERON Secretary, Roman Antiquities Section**
11
## _We meet, we learn_
## **MEDIEVAL STUDIES SECTION**
2020 began with a varied programme ranging from the English Civil War, Syon House to the Historic Town of York. Our last in-person session was in March and no further meetings were able to take place until the autumn, with online lectures on Mount Grace Priory, Anglo-Saxon finds in Cambridgeshire, and Anchorites. Numbers joining in held up well, and indeed were higher than for some regular meetings, as we attracted members from further afield who otherwise would not be able to get to Leeds and the live meetings.
We are however aware that some members may not have been able to join the online meetings, and we can only apologise to those members who are unable to join in - at least we were able to keep the Section going. The latest issue of Medieval Yorkshire was published during the year, thanks to the stirling efforts of our Editor.
## **JO HERON**
## **Secretary, Medieval Studies Section**
## **INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SECTION**
Individual membership of the Section (both Section only and with main Society) now stands at 68. We were sorry to learn of the death in May of longstanding member John Meredith. Thanks are due to all Section members for their continued support and to those who have ensured that it has been able to function during a difficult year.
Our January lecture on the Heavy Ceramics Industry in Calderdale was followed in February by a half-day Conference in memory of the late Robert Vickers, an active member of the Section who worked on the Industrial History
_continues..._
12
## _We meet, we learn_
## _**Industrial History Section continued**_
Online website. This event was a successful collaboration with the Leeds Industrial Museum and took place at Armley Mills with over 50 attending to hear about the Sheffield 'Simplex' car.
Our March lecture and the April AGM had to be cancelled and there were no summer excursions. Our programme resumed later via Zoom with the delayed AGM held on 26 September, when the existing officers were re-elected: Chair - Bill Jagger, Vice Chair - John Suter, Treasurer and Membership Secretary - Nick Nelson, Lecture Secretary - Jane Ellis and Newsletter Editor and Section Nominee to Management Board - Margaret Tylee.
Most members were able to join later lectures held via Zoom - Water for Leeds: the Reservoirs of the Washburn Valley; Underground Mining and Surveying, and Things that go Bang in the Night (Industrial Explosives), with the advantages that we were able to extend an invitation to a wider audience; noone needed to travel to Leeds, and images could be seen more clearly on the screen.
## **MARGARET TYLEE IHS Newsletter Editor**
13
## _We meet, we learn_
## **FAMILY HISTORY SECTION**
The administration of the Family History Section proved to be challenging during 2020 as a result of the restrictions consequent on coronavirus. Many thanks are due to those members who kept the Section’s services running in these difficult times.
The lecture programme during 2020 covered a wide range of topics including The Story of Titus Salt and Saltaire; How to Organise and Present Research; The Growth of Bramley; The Lost Buildings of Central Leeds; Abide with Me - The emotive story of this famous hymn; Railway Posters; Pantomime in the collections at Leeds Museums.
In the latter half of 2020 the programme was delivered using Zoom to those members with the online access. Although it was regrettable not to be able to hold face-to-face meetings, the use of Zoom had a beneficial side effect in enabling members who had not previously, or in recent years, been able to get to Leeds to attend meetings to join in the Sections' activities.
The Section continued to exchange copies of its publication The Yorkshire Family Historian with other genealogical societies throughout the UK, Canada and Australia. A noticeable feature is that the significant majority of our exchange magazine partners now prefer to receive and deliver publications electronically rather than as print copies.
The Section received a slow but steady flow of enquiries during the year, some of them asking for information well beyond our capabilities, many based in very little starting information (for example, finding family ancestors back in the 1500-1600s). Some of the more prosaic enquiries essentially asked us to carry out a free of charge genealogical research project.
_continues ..._
14
## _We meet, we learn_
## _**Family History Section continued**_
The day-to-day operation of the Yorkshire Roots website was also upgraded to raise the profile of the Section, as well as improving the service to members. However, we do need to offer more than this if we are to stop the reduction in the scope of our activities and our membership numbers. The Section planned to exhibit at the York Family History Fair in June 2020 which unfortunately was postponed until 2021, as was the 2020 Huddersfield Local History Fair.
The Section continued its memberships of the Yorkshire and of the National Federations of Family History Societies to maintain contact with family history topics and resources on a wider local and national scale. We need to be more than this if we are to stop the reduction in the scope of our activities and our membership numbers
## **JOHN KORNA Section Webmaster**
15
## We give
## **THE SOCIETY GRANTS SCHEME**
**F** _**or full details of the YAHS Grants Scheme visit our website - https://www.yas.org.uk/The-Society/Grants**_
The Society awarded grants to seven archaeological projects in 2020, although the commencement of three of these was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Altogether the sum of the grants offered came to £10,168, the value of the delayed projects being £3,658.
All but one of the projects are being funded through the Society's scheme, with one of the delayed projects being funded by the Prehistory Research Section (to support the cost of two C14 dates for a Mesolithic site at Esklets).
The two other delayed projects are trial trench excavations of potential Bronze Age features near Kettlewell, and a pilot project (‘Dates in Drawers’) involving working with selected Yorkshire museum curators to radiocarbon date significant artefacts in their collections.
The four active projects during 2020 included a third season of excavation at the prehistoric hilltop enclosure at Kipling House Farm in East Yorkshire, and the geophysical survey of a supposed Iron Age enclosure at Roughbirchworth in South Yorkshire. Neither of these projects, which both have significant community engagement elements, have been reported yet.
c _ontinues.._ ...
16
## _We give_
## _**The Society Grants Scheme continued**_
The Society also provided a contribution towards the cost of publishing a memorial volume of essays entitled
## _**Histories of People and Landscape in memory of David Hey**_
It is edited by Professor R W Hoyle and to be published in March 2021 by Hertfordshire University Press.
Finally, a grant of £750 helped enable Barnsley Archives to secure at auction the purchase of a collection of historic maps of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, dated to c.1800.
## _**Barnsley maps, first page (detail)**_
**IAN ROBERTS Honorary Grants Officer**
17
## We communicate
## **BRIEFING**
Two issues of _Briefing,_ the magazine for Society members, were produced and distributed during the year, primarily electronically. Hard copies are also produced for distribution at events (when they can be held) and past copies are free to download from the website. Thanks are due to the Editor David Brear and also to those who have contributed to this well received publication. An eye-catching new membership leaflet was also produced by David and distributed during the year.
## **E-MAIL NEWS**
Information about Society’s and other organisations’ activities are shared regularly via email and members are encouraged to allow their email addresses to be used for this purpose.
## **SOCIAL MEDIA**
The Society’s Facebook page continues to be successful for information sharing, with followers having increased from 2,535 in March to 2,865 in November.
## **YAHS WEBSITE**
The front page design of the Society’s website was updated earlier in the year and the site was also enhanced with the addition of images from the Tony Pacitto collection of aerial archaeology images, and a page of engravings of Yorkshire characters from the Civil War period.
## **FUTURE ACTIVITIES**
Members are invited to bring forward proposals for ways in which the Society and its work can be brought to the attention of a wider public, always bearing in mind that the Society depends largely on volunteer effort to pursue its aims.
## **MARGARET TYLEE Chair, Promotions Group**
18
## Capital Investments
The value of the Society’s capital assets and the income from them are shown in the Accounts, together with a note on reserves policy. The bulk of the capital is invested the Charities Investment Fund of Churches Charities and Local Authorities Investment Management Ltd. (CCLA) . Other investments, mostly in the form of preference shares acquired between 1994 and 2001, make up the rest of the assets.
Income is distributed annually in accordance with the source and purpose of the capital. The larger part of the income from all the Society’s investments can be used to support any of its charitable activities but some is deliberately earmarked for particular purposes.
**The Grants Fund** was created by the Society to be used to make grants. There are no restrictions on the use of the capital or income. The capital is invested in shares in British Petroleum and in Standard Chartered Bank.
**The Benefactors Fund** was created by the Society from various non-specific financial gifts and there are no restrictions on use of its capital or income. The capital is invested in the Co-operative Group Ltd. and in Standard Chartered Bank.
**R. T. Spence Fund** This small fund is to be used, as specified by the donor, to purchase books on the Tudor and Stuart period (that is, from 1485 to 1714).
**Elisabeth Exwood Memorial Trust** was created by the father of Miss Elisabeth Exwood, a former member of the Society, and the capital is invested with the CCLA, split between their General and Ethical funds. The income is to be divided in equal portions to benefit the Record Series and the Society’s library and archives, to which uses it is restricted.
**J. D. Hicks Fund** The bequest was made under the will of Mr John David Hicks and the use of the income is restricted to use on the Society’s library and archives. The capital is invested in preference shares in Lloyds Bank and Northern Electric.
19
## **Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society**
Charity number 224083 A company limited by guarantee number 00038346
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020**
Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 5|
|Examiner's report|6|
|Statement of financial activities|7|
|Balance sheet|8|
|Notes to the accounts|9 to 14|
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Trustees' report for the year ended 31 December 2020
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: **Name Position Dates**
Mr David Wilkes Asquith President Dr Brian John Barber Mr Gary Brannan Mr David Edward Boyington Brear Dr David John Buck Hon Gen Secretary Professor Malcolm Chase Dr Gillian Cookson Ms Charlotte Dean Dr Alexander Gibson Professor Richard Hoyle Mr Axel Erhard Wilhelm Muller Mr Ian Daniel Roberts Mrs Sylvia Thomas Mrs Margaret Ann Tylee **Charity number** 224083 **Company number** 00038346 **Registered and principal address** Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Hunslet, Leeds LS10 2QW
From 13 July 2019 Appointed 24 October 2020 Deceased February 2020
Appointed 24 October 2020, resigned 21 February 2021 Appointed 24 October 2020 Appointed 24 October 2020
Registered in England and Wales Registered in England and Wales
## **Investment Managers**
CCLA Senator House 85 Queen Victoira Street London. EC4V 4ET
**Bankers** Yorkshire Bank plc Barclays Bank plc NatWest Bank plc PayPal 20 Merrion Way 2 Churchill Place 135 Bishopsgate 5 New Street Square Leeds Canary Wharf London London LS2 8NZ London. E14 5RB. EC2M 3UR EC4A 3TW
## **Independent examiner**
Claire Welling West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 7 March 1893. It is governed by a memorandum and articles of association which were amended by special resolutions 25 March 1935, 29 April 1949. 24 October 1970, 19 June 1993, 26 September 2015 and 30 June 2018. The liability of the members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding ten shillings.
## **Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees of the charity are also the directors for the purposes of company law and are appointed by the members at the AGM.
2
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2020
## **Objectives and activities**
## **The charity's objects**
The objects for which the Society is established are:-
(a) The taking over of the property, effects, and liabilities of the present unincorporated Association known as The Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association.
(b) The examination, preservation, and illustration of the History, Architecture, Antiquities, Manners, Customs, Arts and Traditions of the county of York; and especially the collection and preservation of books, pamphlets, manuscripts, deeds, engravings, drawings, coins, antiquities, and other objects relating to or bearing upon the History, Antiquities, or Topography of the county.
(c) The acquisition by donation, purchase, or otherwise, of a Library and a Museum, and the use, maintenance and extension of such Library and Museum.
(d) The holding of meetings for the reading of papers, the exhibition of antiquities, and other objects, and the discussion of subjects connected with any of the objects of the Society.
(e) The holdings of meetings at, and for the inspection and examination of places rendered interesting by their antiquities, architecture, or associations, or for any other reason.
(f) The acquisition by purchase, taking on lease, tenancy, or otherwise, of lands and buildings, and any other property, real and personal, for any estate, term, or interest, which the Society for the purposes thereof may from time to time think proper to acquire, and which may lawfully be held by them subject to the provisions of the 21st section of the Companies Act, 1862; and the re-sale, leasing, letting, management, surrender, or disposition of any such property for any of the purposes of the Society, or for any purpose which may be thought incidental or conducive to the attainment of any of the objects of the Society.
(g) The transcription, abstracting, reproduction, printing, publication, and sale of books, pamphlets, journals, transactions, prints, engravings, and other matters, by subscription or otherwise, and the payment of all usual and necessary expenses thereof.
(h) The borrowing of money for the purposes of the Society, and the execution of mortgages and other securities to secure the monies so borrowed, with interest thereon.
(i) The granting of money towards the cost of exploring and preserving ancient buildings and other objects of antiquity, or for the furthering of any of the objects of the Society.
(k) The doing of all other lawful things incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.
## **The charity's main activities**
The primary objective of the YAHS is the promotion of the study of Yorkshire’s past through archaeology and history.
The activities of the Society are aimed at fulfilling its aims and objectives. During 2020 the Society pursued these activities through its programme of lectures and other events, through the production of publications, and through the promotion of research into the archaeology and history of the historic county of Yorkshire via the award of grants and directly. Through its special interest Sections, the Society also catered for those people interested in studying and researching specific topics and periods.
The Society continued to publish new work in 2020. Volume 92 of the _Yorkshire Archaeological Journal_ was issued, albeit slightly later than usual due to the effects of the coronavirus and related restrictions. New volumes of _Medieval Yorkshire_ and _Prehistoric Yorkshire_ were also produced, as were further issues of the Society's magazine, _Briefing_ (volumes 6 and 7) and an edition of _Roman Yorkshire_ .
Due to the impact of the coronavirus in terms of public meetings becoming no longer feasible, the Society's lecture programme for April to June 2020 had to be cancelled, as did a two day conference on the work of former Society member Professor Maurice Beresford (to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth). The lecture programme for the autumn of 2020 was also slightly reduced, but arrangements were made to start offering lectures online using the Zoom software platform. These lectures proved very successful, in some instances attracting markedly more participants than had previously attended face-to-face sessions.
3
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2020
## **The charity's main activities (continued)**
Grants were awarded by the Society to support the following activities:
1. excavations at Kipling House Farm (£3,434)
2. to obtain a peat radiocarbon date for work at Esklets (£590)
3. to Barnsley Council to assist with the purchase of early 19th century maps for Barnsley Archives (£750)
4. to support community excavations at Kettlewell (£1,069)
5. to enable a geophysical survey at Roughbirchworth (£2,076)
6. to assist with the publication of conference papers (David Hey conference) (£250)
## **Public benefit statement**
In undertaking their responsibilities as trustees, and therefore in setting objectives and planning and overseeing the Society's activities, the members of the Management Board bear in mind the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit. In particular, bearing in mind the Society's primary objective to promote the study of Yorkshire’s past through archaeology and history, the trustees are confident that appropriate public benefit has accrued in the past year through activities such as the provision of public access to the Society's archives, the promotion of opportunities to learn about archaeology and history via conferences, lectures and exhibitions, and the availability of grant funding to support the archaeological and historical research.
The charity operates to advance the arts, culture, heritage or science and to advance education.
## **Achievements and performance**
The Society's Library and Archives are deposited on long-term loan in the Special Collections department of the University of Leeds Brotherton Library. The Archives are open to the general public, as well as to the Society members, and continued to be well-used during the first three months of 2020. Regrettably, thereafter due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions had to be placed by the University on access to the archive collections, and for much of the rest of the year material could not be directly accessed. To partly alleviate these limitations, the University made arrangements in the latter part of the year for the free copying of material, and online consultations with archivists to enable some research to continue. Access to the Society's library was, perforce, even more limited for most of 2020 for the same reason.
The Society was able to purchase to add to its own archives partly using its own funds and partly with grant aid from the Friends of the National Libraries and the V&A Purchase Fund, a unique memorandum book kept by John Brearley, a cloth frizzer in Wakefield, covering the years 1772-3.
## **Financial review**
The net income for the year was £109,789, including net income of £103,832 on unrestricted funds and net income of £5,957 on endowment funds.
## **Reserves policy**
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £179,545.
The Trustees and the Finance Committee continue to seek and take advice on the best way to make use of the investments which the Society has and the income it receives.
Their current policy for capital investments is that these should ensure as far as practicable that their real value (as distinct from their nominal cash value) is at least maintained in the longer term whilst at the same time providing sufficient income to ensure that the Society can adequately sustain its charitable activities. As an initial benchmark it was expected that a net return of 3.2% pa would satisfy this objective and this benchmark remains unchanged.
Cash balances in bank accounts are retained at a level which ensures that the Society can meet its obligations and spending plans for at least one year ahead without needing to draw down capital.
4
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2020
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and UK Accounting Standards.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP (FRS102)), and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees:
Signed: David Wilkes Asquith (President and Trustee)
Name: David Wilkes Asquith
Date: 12 April 2021
5
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 7 to 14.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- 4 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Claire Welling Name: Claire Welling
Date: 12/04/2021
## **West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
6
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Statement of Financial Activities
## (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 December 2020
|Notes
**Income from:**
Grants
(2)
Donations, legacies and Gift Aid
Sales, licence fees and royalties
Subscriptions
Investment income
Other income
Release of prior year's provision
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Main Activities
Yorkshire Archaeological Journal
Subscriptions / donations paid
Grants awarded
Meeting rooms, lectures and excursions
Library and archive collections
Other professional services
Other printed publications
Digitisation and web services
Main Activities total
Administration
Administrative assistance
Rent, rates and utilities
Insurance
Telephone and broadband
Postage and stationery
Other charges
Printing and photocopying
Bank charges
Independent examination
AGM
Administration total
**Total expenditure**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**Net income / (expenditure)**
**Fund balances brought forward**
**Fund balances carried forward**
(3,4)|2020
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
11,657
7,691
24,508
40,762
117
8,259
92,994
4,645
1,031
3,381
4,255
4,666
1,383
2,692
4,416
26,469
4,221
4,047
1,061
913
2,459
155
1,618
355
2,250
150
17,229
43,698
54,536
103,832
1,130,767
1,234,599|2020
Restricted
funds
£
4,375
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,375
-
-
-
-
4,375
-
-
-
4,375
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,375
-
-
9,714
9,714|2020
Endowment
funds
£
-
-
-
-
2,700
-
-
2,700
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,257
5,957
55,708
61,665|2020
Total
funds
£
4,375
11,657
7,691
24,508
43,462
117
8,259
100,069
4,645
1,031
3,381
4,255
9,041
1,383
2,692
4,416
30,844
4,221
4,047
1,061
913
2,459
155
1,618
355
2,250
150
17,229
48,073
57,793
109,789
1,196,189
1,305,978|2019
Total
funds
£
-
15,280
8,698
27,627
36,659
2,305
-
90,569
4,715
955
5,000
5,565
2,510
-
8,101
2,784
29,630
660
5,686
3,817
768
2,788
105
634
413
2,250
782
17,903
47,533
137,280
180,316
1,015,873
1,196,189|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
7
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Balance sheet
|as at 31 December 2020
**Fixed assets**
Investments
(5)
**Total fixed assets**
**Current assets**
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
(6)
**Total current assets**
**Current liabilities:**
**amounts falling due within one year**
Creditors and accruals
(7)
Deferred income
**Total current liabilities**
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Endowment funds
**Total funds**|2020
Unrestricted
£
1,055,054
1,055,054
18,648
168,722
187,370
2,250
5,575
7,825
179,545
1,234,599
1,234,599
1,234,599
-
-
1,234,599|2020
2020
Restricted Endowment
£
£
-
56,951
-
56,951
-
-
9,714
4,714
9,714
4,714
-
-
-
-
-
-
9,714
4,714
9,714
61,665
9,714
61,665
-
-
9,714
-
-
61,665
9,714
61,665|2020
Total
£
1,112,005
1,112,005
18,648
183,150
201,798
2,250
5,575
7,825
193,973
1,305,978
1,305,978
1,234,599
9,714
61,665
1,305,978|2019
Total
£
1,054,212
1,054,212
2,250
153,910
156,160
11,428
2,755
14,183
141,977
1,196,189
1,196,189
1,130,767
9,714
55,708
1,196,189|
|---|---|---|---|---|
For the year ending 31 December 2020 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The trustees (who also the directors for the purposes of company law) acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime and with FRS 102 (effective January 2019).
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on
Date: 25 March 2021
Signed: David Wilkes Asquith
(Trustee)
Name David Wilkes Asquith
8
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Notes to the accounts
## for the year ended 31 December 2020
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of accounting**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year. No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
## **Going concern**
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Grants and donations**
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
## **Investments**
Investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date. The SOFA includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluations and disposals throughout the year.
## **Heritage assets**
The Society has in its ownership various books and historical documents whether bought through appeals or gifts to it over the years. These assets, being of a historical nature, have not been included on the balance sheet. It is not practical to obtain valuations of such assets held. Historical books and documents are written off to the statement of financial activities on a receipts and payments basis when they are sold or acquired.
## **Expenditure and liabilities**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
## **Grants payable with performance conditions**
Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.
9
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Notes to the accounts
## for the year ended 31 December 2020
## **1 Accounting policies (continued)**
## **Grants payable without performance conditions**
Where there are no conditions attaching to the grant that enables the donor charity to realistically avoid the commitment, a liability for the full funding obligation must be recognised.
## **Taxation**
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets (other than heritage assets) are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Endowment funds represent those assets which must be held permanently by the charity, principally investments. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income unless restrictions have been imposed by the donor. Any capital gains or losses arising on the investments form part of the fund. Investment management charges and legal advice relating to the fund are charged against the fund.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
10
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 December 2020
|**2 Grants**
Friends of the National Libraries
Victoria & Albert Museum
**3 Restricted funds**
Local History Publications
Aerial Archaeology
Yorkshire Quern Survey
Friends of the National Libraries
Victoria & Albert Museum|2020
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
-
-
Balance b/f
£
222
7,901
1,591
-
-
9,714|2020
Restricted
funds
£
3,125
1,250
4,375
Incoming
£
-
-
-
3,125
1,250
4,375|2020
Total
funds
£
3,125
1,250
4,375
Outgoing
£
-
-
-
3,125
1,250
4,375|2019
Total
funds
£
-
-
-
Balance c/f
£
222
7,901
1,591
-
-
9,714|
|---|---|---|---|---|
**Fund name Purpose of restriction** Local History Publications To be used for purchases of books on the Tudor and Stuart period from funds provided by Mr R T Spence Aerial Archaeology For activities in this speciality Yorkshire Quern Survey For activities in this speciality Friends of the National Libraries Towards Brearley manuscript purchase Victoria & Albert Museum Towards Brearley manuscript purchase
|**4 Endowment funds**
JD Hicks Fund
Elisabeth Exwood Mem Trust
**Fund name**|Balance b/f
Incoming
£
£
37,904
2,194
17,804
506
55,708
2,700
**Purpose of restriction**|Outgoing
£
-
-
-|Revaluation
and
transfers
£
2,225
1,032
3,257|Balance c/f
£
42,323
19,342
61,665|
|---|---|---|---|---|
## **Purpose of restriction**
JD Hicks Fund To be used for the purchase or repair of books, maps, pamphlets or computer items.
Elisabeth Exwood Memorial Trust
A revaluation of the share portfolio was made at the year end date. To be used towards purchases for the society's library and new publications in the society's "Record Series"
A revaluation of the CCLA investments was made at the year end date.
11
## Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 December 2020
|**5 Analysis of investments**
CCLA COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund
CCLA COIF Charities Investment Fund
Preference shares
**Movement on investments in the year**
Carrying (market) value at beginning of year
Additions
Net gain / (loss) on revaluations during the year
**6 Cash at bank and in hand**
Yorkshire Bank
Barclays Bank
NatWest Bank
PayPal
Undeposited funds
**7 Creditors and accruals**
Loans and overdrafts
Creditors
Accruals|2020
£
8,639
912,688
190,678
1,112,005
2020
£
1,054,212
-
57,793
1,112,005
2020
£
48,880
118,709
13,371
2,055
135
183,150
2020
£
-
-
2,250
2,250|2019
£
8,128
857,824
188,260
1,054,212
2019
£
889,864
27,067
137,281
1,054,212
2019
£
59,623
79,993
12,926
1,368
-
153,910
2019
£
8,259
919
2,250
11,428|
|---|---|---|
## **8 Contingent liabilities**
The charity has a potential obligation to spend £37,000 for cataloguing its collection of post-1850 books at Leeds University Library. The timing is uncertain due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
## **9 Related party transactions**
## **Trustee expenses**
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
## **Trustee remuneration and benefits**
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
## **Remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel**
There are no additional personnel employed by the charity who act as key management other than the Board of Trustees.
## **Other transactions with trustees or related parties**
The Trustees awarded a grant of £2,076 to Roughbirchworth community archaeology group to fund a preexcavation geophysical survey. The project is being managed by Mr Barry Tylee whose partner Mrs Margaret Tylee is a trustee of the Society.
12
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## **OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY**
Hon. General Secretary D. J. Buck Hon. Treasurer Vacant Joint Hon. Editors of the Journal M. Chase (History, until 29.2.20) P. Chrystal (History, 24.10.20 to 30.11.20) G. Cookson (History, Acting, from 1.12.20) R. Martlew (Archaeology) Series Co-ordinators B.J. Barber (History) I. D. Roberts (Archaeology) Hon. Collections Liaison Officer S. Thomas Hon. Excursions Secretary Vacant Hon. Grants Officer I.D. Roberts Hon. Membership Secretary Vacant Hon. Publications Officer I. D. Roberts Chair, Promotions Group M. Tylee Hon. Volunteer Co-ordinator B. Wassell
## **HON. SECRETARIES OF SECTIONS, ETC.**
Parish Register Section P. M. Litton Editor, Record Series C. Webb (to 1.5.2020) B.J. Barber (from 14.12.2020) Wakefield Court Rolls Editor B. J. Barber Family History Section Vacant Industrial History Section (contact) M. Tylee Medieval Section J. Heron Prehistory Research Section R. J. Cruse Roman Antiquities Section J. Heron
## **REPRESENTATIVES OF GROUPS AND AFFILIATED SOCIETIES**
East Riding Archaeological Trust T.G. Manby East Riding Archaeological Society R. Coates Forest of Galtres Society H. Kirk Harrogate Archaeological Society J. Heward Helmsley Archaeological and Historical Society J. Bradfield Huddersfield & District Archaeological Society S. Harling Hunter Archaeological Society R. Morgan Ingleborough Archaeology Group C Howard Middleham & Dales Local History Society A. Keates Olicana Historical Society C. Farmer
PLACE M. Atherden
Pontefract & District Archaeological Society E. Houlder Scarborough Archaeological & Historical Society K. Johnston Skipton & Craven Historical Society K. Jackson Upper Wharfedale Field Society H. Dye Upper Wharfedale Heritage Group M. White Wakefield Historical Society P. Judkins Whitby Literary & Philosophical Society C. Kroebel Yorkshire Philosophical Society F. Chambers Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group M. Cook
## **CONTACT DETAILS**
YAHS, Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street, Leeds, LS10 2QW Telephone: 0113 245 7910 (Answerphone)
## **Email**
office@yahs.org.uk president@yahs.org.uk secretary@yahs.org.uk treasurer@yahs.org.uk Website: www.yahs.org.uk
## **LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES**
The Society's Library and Archives are available at the University of Leeds Library, where they are held on long-term loan. The Society's Archives and the books in the Society's Library printed in 1850 or before are accessible in the Special Collections department of the University Library (see https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1500/special_collections). The post-1850 books in the Society's Library are available on the open shelves of the University of Leeds Brotherton Library, and all the other books in the University of Leeds Library are accessible to both YAHS members and members of other groups affiliated to the YAHS. Letters of authorisation to enable application for University of Leeds Library tickets may be obtained from the Society's office.
## **OPENING TIMES OF LEEDS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY**
Details of the location and opening times for the University of Leeds Library may be found via: https://library.leeds.ac.uk/locations
The location and opening hours for Special Collections may be found at: https://library.leeds.ac.uk/locations/special-collections
## **EVENTS PROGRAMME**
Members are reminded that the Events Programme Year runs from September to August. Subject to the relaxation of coronavirus-related restrictions on meetings, almost all the lectures for the 2021-2022 academic year are expected to take place at the Swarthmore Education Centre, 2-7 Woodhouse Square, Leeds, LS3 1AD.
The Membership Year runs from January to December and subscriptions for 2021 are due by 31 December 2020. The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal is published each year in August/September.