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2023-12-31-accounts

2023

Annual Report & Accounts

YORKSHIREARCHAEOLOGICALAND
HISTORICALSOCIETY

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. .
Y A H S
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Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society Stringer House 34 Lupton Street, Leeds LS10 2QW

Company number 00038346 Charity number 224083 www.yahs.org.uk

Patrons, Officers and Board Members 2023

PATRONS

LORD CRATHORNE MR SEBASTIAN FATTORINI LORD HOPE OF THORNES

PRESIDENT

D. ASQUITH

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS

P.V. ADDYMAN S. THOMAS

VICE-PRESIDENTS

M.J.HERON

MANAGEMENT BOARD

D. ASQUITH

G. BRANNAN (until 21.4.23) D. BREAR

G. COOKSON K. COX J.P. COSTIMA (From 20.5.23) T. DRUMMOND (until 14.2.23) G. EASTABROOK

A. GIBSON (until 20.5.23) R. HOYLE A. MULLER I. ROBERTS S. THOMAS

Annual Report & Accounts 2023

ANNUAL REPORT Page
The Society ii
Review of the year 1
We collect 2
We publish 4
We meet, we learn 7
We give 17
We communicate 18
ACCOUNTS 20
Trustees' report
Examiner's report
Statement of financial activities
Balance sheet
Notes to the accounts

i

The Society

Objects

"The examination, preservation and illustration of the History, Architecture, Antiquities, Manners, Customs and Traditions of the historic county of York."

Operation

The Society is a charity and a company run by an elected Management Board who are its Trustees and Directors.

Enquiries

Our website provides several ways to contact the Society according to the nature of your particular enquiry. https://www.yahs.org.uk

Alternatively please write to:

The Honorary General Secretary, Yorkshire Archaeological & Historical Society, Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street LEEDS LS10 2QW

E: secretary@yahs.org.uk

ii

Review of the year

Once again I am pleased to report that for the time being at least we have sufficient income to support our established and ongoing activities and to carry out one-off projects.

Progress continues to be made in terms of reshaping the way in which the Society pursues its general aims and we can be confident that there are more improvements to come.

The Society relies on people willing and able to give of their time and skill in various ways. Most roles are negotiable so I’d be glad to hear from anyone wishing to discuss all or part of the foregoing.

We also have vacancies for Trustees on our Board and would welcome new candidates with commitment to promoting the study of Yorkshire’s fascinating past.

496

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY

595

COMBINED MEMBERSHIP OF OUR FIVE SPECIALIST SECTIONS

440

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR JOURNAL AND RECORD SERIES COMBINED

David Asquith President@yahs.org.uk

1

We collect

SOCIETY COLLECTIONS REPORT

In keeping with our charitable objectives, one of the highlights of 2023 was our display in Craven Court Roll conserved Museum’s community showcase and rebound in Skipton. For three months from April to June we were able to show items from the Society’s collections related to the Craven area, of which we have plenty of examples, and were able to include some original archives as well as photographic copies of others. We also featured the activities of our Sections and the resources of our library and some publications.

Two of the oldest deeds in our collections and the Currer of Kildwick Survey Book of 1771

We are very grateful to Jenny Hill and the staff at the museum for their help, and to Special Collections at the Brotherton Library for preparing the documents and photographs for the display.

Among new material added to our collections this year we have acquired the diary of Cornelius Harrison, of Stubb House, Winston, Co. Durham (1808-1836), an artist. The diary covers the years 1831-33, and relates to his travels in London, France and Italy as well as at home (YAS MS2023). The diary is relevant to the collection given

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2

We collect

Society Collections Report (continued)

many years ago which relates to the Stubb House estate and includes a portrait of Cornelius Harrison (YAS MD474).

In November the Society received the generous gift from Mrs Anne Devent of two medieval deeds relating to her paternal family history. One, dated 1324/5, concerns land in ‘Est Herlesay’ (Harlsey) N. Yorks. The second, which may be pre1300, relates to land in ‘Ceszey’ (Sessay), also N. Yorks.

We also received a welcome further batch of reports from the Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Study Group.

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Harlsey
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Sessay
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Over the two year period 2022 and 2023 YAHS items held at Leeds University Special Collections were among their most-called for research resources, attracting 1054 requests. This would have included projects undertaken by Society Members Dr Brian Barber and Professor Richard W Hoyle.

Sylvia Thomas Hon Collections Liaison Officer

3

We publish

YORKSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL JOURNAL

By 7 March 2024, 6 months after publication, articles in Volume 95 of the Journal had received almost 2,000 online views, in addition to our printed circulation to members.

The significant impact of Open Access publishing is clearly shown by one archaeological and one historical article, with 354 and 426 views respectively. We are grateful to Historic England and the University of Sheffield for support enabling this free access online. Overall, the Journal achieved 10,361 downloads in 2023, increasing by 46% on the previous year; a total of £2202.36 was generated for the Society from royalties.

In addition to commercial reports on prehistoric and Roman-British settlement excavations, archaeological articles in Volume 95 cover the results of radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analysis of skulls in the collection of the Craven Museum, Skipton, funded by the Society through the “Dates in Drawers” project . A report on a metal-detector discovery in the East Riding shares a theme with a commercial report on a cist burial from near Aldborough, in that both discoveries involved considerable quantities of lead. A review article provided a well-illustrated and comprehensive overview of Medieval aisled houses in Yorkshire.

Along with seven history book reviews, there are three history articles. Ian Kershaw returns to the subject of his early-career research on Bolton Priory, asking the question ‘What was an Augustinian Grange?’. ‘Sophie Forgan investigates the impact of Captain James Cook’s early experiences in north-east Yorkshire on his

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4

We publish

Publications report - YAJ (continued)

subsequent career. Her article is illustrated with superb images, two of them in colour, from mid-eighteenth century Whitby sources. Brian Barber highlights the work of YAHS in making accessible the court rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, the jewel in the crown of the Society’s archival collections, inscribed in UNESCO’s register of the Memory of the World. The article will itself be an invaluable guide for anyone embarking on research in these records.

An obituary appears of J. Michael Collinson (1929-2022), former coeditor (with his wife, Catherine) of the YAJ .

Authors considering writing for the YAJ are encouraged to contact the editors for advice: yajeditors@yahs.org.uk .

Roger Martlew Archaeology Editor

Gillian Cookson History Editor

RECORD SERIES

No new volume was produced in 2023. In October the Management Board invited Professor Richard Hoyle to take the post of General Editor with the aim of re-energizing the Series. The challenges for the next few years are to issue sufficient volumes to catch up with the subscription years, rebuild the series’ subscription membership and attract a pool of editors who wish to contribute to the series. A new web page lists some of the areas (and volumes) in which the Record Series Committee would be interested to receive proposals.

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5

We publish

Publications report - Record Series (continued)

The Committee would also be interested in hearing from anyone interested in joining the Record Series committee. A commitment to record publication is, of course, essential, but members with a knowledge of current publishing practice and librarianship could also make a valuable contribution as we sail into largely uncharted waters

We hope that The letters of William Rooth of Wakefield, 1804-29 edited by Philip Riden, will appear late this year or very early next and we have the promise of a further volume for 2025. The next volume to appear would be a suitable occasion on which to relaunch the series.

Richard Hoyle General Editor

Record Series Sales

In 2023 our publishers continued to sell print copies of the most recent volumes (2021 and 2022). Sales are strongest when first published but a total of 28 were sold in 2023. The Society itself sells small numbers of earlier volumes still in print, some of which are many years old.

Early RS volumes sold as e-books or paperbacks

Cambridge University Press continues to sell reprints of the early volumes republished 10 years ago to mark the Society’s 150th anniversary. Since then, 2587 paperbacks have been sold, including 39 in the first half of 2023. In the case of e-books, out of 306 sold since the reprints were first offered, 99 were sold in the first half of 2023.

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6

We publish

Publications report (continued)

Other printed publications

Our bestselling book continues to be Life and Tradition in the Yorkshire Dales was reprinted in 2023.

‘Briefing’ , a magazine for Society members is produced 3 times a year. Section newsletters vary in frequency. Print copies of Briefing are available on request but are now outnumbered by pdf format.

YAHS on the Internet Archive

In the seven years since the Society began to republish older books and Journals on the Internet Archive, its collection of 274 items has attracted over a quarter of a million views, only a small proportion being by robots.

Internet Archive: Views per month, by people and robots from mid 2017 to early 2024 Total views: 253,048

Ian Roberts

Hon. Publications Officer

7

We meet, we learn

PREHISTORY RESEARCH SECTION

At our March meeting, held on Zoom, Anna Bloxam spoke on 'Yorkshire’s unusual Beaker burials: what can period-atypical funerary practices tell us about British prehistory?’ and this was followed by our AGM. A Members’ Morning was arranged at Swarthmore in June, where Yvonne Luke spoke on ‘A Druid’s Circle’ between Ingleborough & Ribblehead’, Blaise Vyner told us about ‘The cross-ridge dykes on John Cross Rigg’ and Peter Halkon updated us on ‘Kipling House Farm excavations’, a project grant-supported by the Section.

In late April we visited Malton Museum, where the Pocklington Iron Age shield was being displayed and Peter Halkon told us about its discovery. In September, we were glad to be able to resume our annual joint public meeting with the Prehistoric Society in Leeds City Museum. Despite a rail strike, an audience of 42 people heard Dr Alex Gibson talk on ‘Prehistoric Henges in Yorkshire and beyond: Recent research’.

In August Prehistoric Yorkshire No 61 was published, in recognition of Terry Manby, an Honorary Member, who celebrated his 90th birthday. This edition contained tributes to show our appreciation of his significant contribution to prehistory research in Yorkshire and beyond.

In November, a further two training workshops were organised in collaboration with Historic England, on using aerial photographs and lidar for studying archaeological sites and landscapes. At our Christmas meeting at Swarthmore, Roger Martlew spoke on ‘Heartlands or Hinterlands? The Craven Dales in Later Prehistory’.

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8

We meet, we learn

Prehistory Research Section (continued)

Later in the month, we visited the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum in Doncaster. We were welcomed by Peter Robinson the curator, who guided us around the museum exhibitions and gave us special access to his favourite prehistoric artefacts.

The Section was pleased to grant £1,590 to Spencer Carter for four C14 dates for the Mesolithic/ Neolithic transition site at Esklets on the North York Moors.

The Quern Survey archive now contains 9,000 entries. Assessments were carried out for four contractors, whilst responses were given to 13 enquiries from the public. Work also continued on an important Late Roman assemblage of querns and a millstone from the recent excavations at Aldborough.

John Cruse Secretary, Prehistory Research Section

9

We meet, we learn

MEDIEVAL SECTION

Our lecture programme for 2023 covered a wide a variety of topics.

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Rievaulx Abbey
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We meet, we learn

MEDIEVAL SECTION (continued)

Issue 9 of Medieval Yorkshire was published in late 2023, regretably a year behind schedule.

Medieval Section now has 121 members.

Jo Heron, Secretary

11

We meet, we learn

ROMAN ANTIQUITIES SECTION

We have tried live meetings again, unsuccessfully - more members joined online as has been the practice over recent years, but we are confident that this will eventually remedy itself. In addition, one of our speakers had technical difficulties although, thankfully, the lecture was given by our Chairman.

Meetings over the year have included

At the AGM, the Committee was returned to Office, and we would encourage anyone interested in joining it, to let one of us know. It is not a particularly taxing or onerous role and members can do as much or as little as they want, so please feel free to let the Secretary know.

Jo Heron Secretary

12

We meet, we learn

INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SECTION

Six talks were held in 2023 plus a members’ session. With one exception which was by Zoom only all talks were both in person and by Zoom. The talks were as follows:

The Story of Mohair by John Clay

Thanks must go to Jane Ellis for arranging a good and varied programme and to, John Suter, for his Zoom expertise.

Three Newsletters were produced and emailed to members during the year. There are now very few who need a copy printed and posted. Thanks must go to Andrew Milsom, the editor and the various contributors.

Industrial Heritage Online

The Industrial Heritage Online (IHO) Project Group, led by John Suter, remains very active. IHO now includes a total of 21,260 records and 6,213 images - the largest volunteer-created and maintained database of Industrial Heritage Sites in the country. This is a major credit to everyone who has contributed. IHO can be explored either via the link on the YAHS website or directly at https://www.industrialhistoryonline.co.uk/yiho/

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13

We meet, we learn

Industrial History Section (continued)

The focus of the project has now shifted slightly from pure data collection to using IHO to help understand, interpret and explain to a non-technical audience specific aspects of the region's Industrial History. The initial results of this work into the industry of Calderdale and the geographic and time distribution of the early iron industry in Yorkshire and adjacent counties are highly encouraging, highlighting aspects that have not been commented on previously and only became apparent through the combination of data from many sources.

The Project Group held two hybrid meetings last year and responded to enquiries from other county industrial archaeology societies. Work is also continuing with Calderdale Industrial Museum into the digital presentation of the region's industrial heritage.

Finally, thanks must be given to those who have willingly given their time and expertise to enable the Section to function. Mention must also be made of those who have contributed to the questionand-answer sessions after the presentations and those who joined in the enjoyable informal discussions afterwards.

Malham Smelt Mill Flue

Bill Jagger Chair, Industrial History Section

14

We meet, we learn

FAMILY HISTORY SECTION

The operation of the Family History Section proved to be challenging during 2023. Thanks are due the very small team of members who have continued to work to keep the Section’s services running. At this time the limited human resources available means we are a provider of lectures, a magazine publisher, and occasionally advice providers to those who are “stuck” in their researches. We need to be more than this if we are to stop the almost relentless contraction in the scope of our activities.

Ancestry and Find my Past have cornered the markets for many Societies’ publications such as census data and birth, marriage and death details in civil and parish records, closing off an income source for the Section.

During 2023 the Section managed the direct day-to-day operation of the “Yorkshire Roots” website to raise the profile of the YAHS Family History on the internet, as well as supporting our services to members

The Section continued to exchange copies of its thrice yearly publication “The Yorkshire Family Historian” with other genealogical societies throughout the UK, Canada and Australia. A noticeable feature was that the great majority of our exchange magazine partners now insist on taking delivery of publications electronically rather than as printed materials.

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. A number

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15

We meet, we learn

Family History Section (continued)

of the enquirers essentially asked us to carry out a free of charge genealogical research project; these were politely diverted to other providers.

The Section continued its membership of the Family History Federations both in Yorkshire and nationally to maintain a contact with societies, topics and research resources on a wider scale.

The Lecture programme during 2023 covered a wide range of Local History topics and on Family History research methods. During 2023 lectures were delivered live at the Swarthmore Education Centre in central Leeds and by the Zoom meeting facility. There is a growing trend for speakers to use Zoom or charge extra travel costs to present live lectures. Unfortunately this trend reduced the opportunities for monthly social intercourse among those holdinga common interest in Family History.

John Korna, Family History Section

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Ledgard’s Place, Armley in 1957
prior to demolition
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Stonegate Place, Buslingthorpe
c. 1949 prior to demolitiont
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Victorian Era Housing (Leeds City Libraries Leodis.net)

16

We give

GRANTS AWARDED IN 2023

Awards were made for all five applications to the Society grants fund, a total of £9,439 out of the £10,000 available. 3 community archaeology projects shared 77% of the total:

Of the remaining two projects,

Ian Roberts Hon Grants Officer

17

We communicate

SOCIETY PROMOTIONS GROUP

The Group’s main role is to devise and implement actions which raise the society’s public profile and promote growth in membership numbers. Over the past few years actions included developing the Society’s web presence and having old publications scanned on the the Internet Archive. The Group also provides a reporting point for ‘ Briefing’ and the Society’s presence on Facebook. Further information about the extensive use of our collection on the Internet Archive can be found in the Publications section of this report.

Society display at Craven Museum

The number of full members has grown slowly from 474 in 2017 to almost 500 in 2023. The number of publication subscribers was however lower in 2023 than in previous years largely because the Wakefield Court Roll Series closed.

In 2023 Society representatives attended events such as Dales Archaeology Day at Middleham and the Roman Festival at Malton.

18

Our resources online: 24/7, worldwide, free of charge

ON WWW.YAHS.ORG.UK

ON PARTNER WEBSITES

Aerial photographs of historic landscapes by A L Pacitto Wakefield Court Rolls Docket Books - a searchable database: 40,000 copyhold transactions from 1559 to 1799 John Brearley of Wakefield Memorandum Book 1772-3 A gallery of Yorkshire combatants from the Civil War period A video demonstrating the leaf-casting process for conserving fragile paper documents

We are delighted to record our gratitude to all the institutions and individuals who have helped make this possible.

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 2023

Contents Page
Trustees' report 2 - 6
Examiner's report 7
Statement of financial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Notes to the accounts 10 - 15

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 December 2023

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors

The trustees during the financial year and up to and including The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: the date the report was approved were:
Name Position Dates
David Asquith President
Kirsty Anne Louise Cox Treasurer
David Brear
Dr Gillian Cookson
Gillian Ann Eastabrook
Professor Richard William Hoyle
Dr Axel Erhard Wilhelm Muller
Ian Daniel Roberts
Sylvia Thomas
Jan Petrus Maria Costima Appointed 20 May 2023
Gary Robert Brannan Resigned 21 April 2023
Terry Michael Drummond Resigned 14 February 2023
Dr Alexander Myles Gibson Resigned 20 May 2023
Company secretary Dr David John Buck
Charity number 224083 Registered in England and Wales
Company number 00038346 Registered in England and Wales
Registered and principal address Investment Managers
Stringer House CCLA
34 Lupton Street Senator House
Hunslet, Leeds 85 Queen Victoria Street
LS10 2QW London. EC4V 4ET
Bankers
Virgin Money Barclays Bank plc NatWest Bank plc PayPal
20 Merrion Way 2 Churchill Place 135 Bishopsgate 5 New St. Square
Leeds Canary Wharf London London
LS2 8NZ London. E14 5RB. EC2M 3UR EC4A 3TW
Independent examiner
Alan Dodd FCCA
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
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.

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Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

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.

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 2023 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 once again catered for those people interested in studying and researching specific topics and periods. Lecture programmes resumed on an in-person basis, although given the success of the online delivery of lectures in previous years (brought in due to Covid), many sessions continued to be made available online, thereby boosting the reach of the Society's programme.

3

Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

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 the advancement of education.

Achievements and performance

The Society continued to publish new work in 2023. After the delay to the production of the preceding issue, Volume 95 of the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal was produced on time in the late summer. Volume 61 of Prehistoric Yorkshire was produced, as were further issues of the Society's magazine, Briefing (volumes 12 and 13) and an edition of Roman Yorkshire.

The lecture programme for 2023 was delivered partly in person and partly online. There was reluctance on the part of some members to resume attending in person, so the overall number of people attending in person was fewer than before the Covid pandemic. However, lectures continued to be made available on line as well, and the total number of participants held up well. To build on the general success of online sessions, a second series of online-only summer lectures was arranged on weekday evenings in August 2023 on topics including Historic Graffiti, the birth of Yorkshire's seaside resorts, the siege of York in 1644, and landscape studies in Upper Wharfedale.

Grants were awarded by the Society to support the following activities:

  1. the costs of visits to the British Library in London to facilitate research on religious persecution in 17th century Yorkshire (£500)

  2. excavation and post-excavation work for the Petuaria Revisited project (£3150)

  3. a community archaeology project at Hudswell, North Yorkshire (£2275)

  4. investigation of the site of a possible medieval pottery kiln at Firsby Hall Farm, Conisbrough (£1800)

  5. the costs of dating C14 samples from a mesolithic site at Esklets, North Yorkshire (£1590)

  6. the costs of a research trip to Sheffield to work on skeletal material from children, adolescents and young adults from medieval York (£1624)

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Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Financial review

The net income for the year was £100,634, including net income of £98,968 on unrestricted funds, net income of £682 on endowment funds, and net expenditure of £-984 on restricted funds.

Reserves policy

The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £122,652.

The Trustees consider that the Society should retain sufficient Reserves so that they can develop long-term strategies and short-term plans to implement the Society’s charitable objectives, without being hampered by financial restraints. The Trustees consider that Unrestricted Reserves at a minimum amount of £60,000 should be retained to cover the above requirements per annum. The Management Board and its Finance Committee continue actively to seek and take advice on the best way to use the investments and income the Society receives. The major part of the Society's assets are now held in the COIF (Charities Investment Fund) of CCLA, as can be seen in the attached accounts.

In terms of the investments and the reserves, the objectives expressed by the Trustees were that the investments held should ensure, as far as is practicable, that the real capital value is at least maintained in the long term whilst also providing a sufficient income to ensure that the Society can adequately finance its charitable intentions. As an initial benchmark it was expected that a minimum net return of £20,000 would satisfy future income flow with costs of investment management covered before that net income.

In 2016 the Management Board, following Finance Committee proposals, decided that investments should, where practicable and efficient, be managed by third party experts. This approach continues.

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Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

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.

Approved by the board of trustees on 18/4/2024

David W Asquith (Trustee)

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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 2023, which are set out on pages 8 to 15.

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:

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.

Alan Dodd FCCA

3/5/2024

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

7

Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Statement of Financial Activities

(including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Notes
2023
2023
Unrestricted
Endowment
funds
funds
£
£
Income from:
Grants
(2)
-
-
Donations, legacies and Gift Aid
6,971
-
Sales, licence fees and royalties
12,119
-
Subscriptions
24,678
-
Investment income
38,525
-
Total income
82,293
-
Expenditure on:
Main Activities
Yorkshire Archaeological Journal
5,500
-
Subscriptions / donations paid
1,040
-
Grants awarded
10,939
-
Meeting rooms, lectures and excursions
2,342
-
Library and archive collections
10,655
-
Other professional services
2,443
-
Other printed publications
8,282
-
Digitisation and web services
14,903
-
Main Activities total
56,104
-
Administration
Administrative assistance
3,104
-
Rent, rates and utilities
7,192
-
Insurance
1,313
-
Telephone and broadband
1,011
-
Postage and stationery
864
-
Other charges
365
-
Printing and photocopying
47
-
Bank charges
345
-
Independent examination
2,363
-
Administration total
16,604
-
Total expenditure
72,708
-
Net gains/(losses) on investments
89,383
682
Net income / (expenditure)
98,968
682
Fund balances brought forward
1,227,027
60,084
Fund balances carried forward
(3)
1,325,995
60,766		 2023
Restricted
funds
£
6,056
-
-
-
2,726
8,782
2,802
-
-
1,082
1,750
660
-
1,504
7,798
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,798
-
984
7,840
8,824		 2023
Total
funds
£
6,056
6,971
12,119
24,678
41,251
91,075
8,302
1,040
10,939
3,424
12,405
3,103
8,282
16,407
63,902
3,104
7,192
1,313
1,011
864
365
47
345
2,363
16,604
80,506
90,065
100,634
1,294,951
1,395,585		 2022
Total
funds
£
1,250
7,373
13,026
28,530
40,591
90,770
4,645
800
8,293
4,365
19,197
391
12,833
8,763
59,287
3,553
5,264
1,274
913
1,381
368
815
340
2,250
16,158
75,445
(159,192)
(143,867)
1,438,818
1,294,951

All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.

8

Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Balance sheet

as at 31 December 2023
2023
2023
Unrestricted Endowment
£
£
Fixed assets
Investments
(4)
1,203,343
50,747
Total fixed assets
1,203,343
50,747
Current assets
Debtors and prepayments
(5)
5,470
-
Cash at bank and in hand
127,673
10,019
Total current assets
133,143
10,019
Current liabilities:
amounts falling due within one year
Creditors and accruals
(6)
10,491
-
Total current liabilities
10,491
-
Net current assets / (liabilities)
122,652
10,019
Net assets
1,325,995
60,766
Funds
Unrestricted funds
1,325,995
-
Restricted funds
-
-
Endowment funds
-
60,766
Total funds
1,325,995
60,766		 2023
Restricted
£
-
-
-
8,824
8,824
-
-
8,824
8,824
-
8,824
-
8,824		 2023
Total
£
1,254,090
1,254,090
5,470
146,516
151,986
10,491
10,491
141,495
1,395,585
1,325,995
8,824
60,766
1,395,585		 2022
Total
£
1,164,025
1,164,025
3,697
141,207
144,904
13,978
13,978
130,926
1,294,951
1,227,027
7,840
60,084
1,294,951

For the year ending 31 December 2023 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 are 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 18/4/2024

David W Asquith (Trustee)

9

Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

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, if 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.

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.

10

Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting policies continued

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) costing more than £1,000 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.

11

Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 December 2023

2 Grants
Marc Fitch Fund
V&A Museum
Historic England
3a Restricted funds
Aerial Archaeology
Local History Publications
Yorkshire Quern Survey
Marc Fitch Fund
Historic England
V&A Museum
J D Hicks
Elisabeth Exwood Memorial Trust		 Balance b/f
£
6,027
222
1,591
-
-
-
-

-
7,840		 2023
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
Incoming
£
-
-
-
1,504
2,802
1,750
2,194
532
8,782		 2023
Restricted
funds
£
1,504
1,750
2,802
6,056
Outgoing
£
1,742
-
-
1,504
2,802
1,750
-
-
7,798		 2023
Total
funds
£
1,504
1,750
2,802
6,056
Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2022
Total
funds
£
-
1,250
-
1,250
Balance c/f
£
4,285
222
1,591
-
-
-
2,194
532
8,824

Fund name Purpose of restriction Aerial Archaeology For activities in this speciality. Local History Publications To be used for purchases of books on the Tudor and Stuart period from funds provided by Dr R T Spence.

Yorkshire Quern Survey For activities in this speciality. Marc Fitch Fund For digitisation of our old publications on Internet Archive. Historic England Contextualising metal-detected discoveries: Aldborough Roman Coffin.

V&A Museum Towards costs of purchasing, from a private bookseller, accounts and other materials of the Busfeild family of Bingley dating from 1766 to 1846.

J D Hicks

Income from J D Hicks endowment fund account, for use under the terms of the endowment.

Elisabeth Exwood Memorial Trust Income from Elisabeth Exwood Memorial Trust endowment fund endowment fund account, for use under the terms of the endowment.

3b Endowment funds
J D Hicks endowment fund
Elisabeth Exwood Memorial Trust		 Balance b/f
£
39,801
20,283
60,084		 Incoming
£
-
-
-		 Outgoing
£
-
-
-		 Revaluation
£
(965)
1,647
682		 Balance c/f
£
38,836
21,930
60,766

Fund name Purpose of restriction J D Hicks endowment fund To be used for the purchase or repair of books, maps, pamphlets or computer items.

Elisabeth Exwood Memorial Trust To be used towards purchases for the society's library and new publications in the society's "Record Series"

12

Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 December 2023

4a
Fixed assets investments
Balance b/f
Additions
Gain / (loss) on revaluation
Income generated
(Income transferred out)
Total
4b Analysis of investments
CCLA COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund
CCLA COIF Charities Investment Fund
Preference shares
CCLA Claremont Investment
5 Debtors and prepayments
Debtors
Accrued income
6 Creditors and accruals
Creditors
Accruals
Deferred income		 2023
Listed
investments
£
1,164,025
-
90,065
41,251
(41,251)
1,254,090		 2023
Total
£
1,164,025
-
90,065
41,251
(41,251)
1,254,090
2023
£
9,428
9,544
159,179
1,075,939
1,254,090
£
1,970
3,500
5,470
2023
£
900
2,363
7,228
10,491		 2022
Total
£
1,248,217
75,000
(159,192)
40,591
(40,591)
1,164,025
2022
£
8,584
8,741
161,309
985,391
1,164,025
£
197
3,500
3,697
2022
£
4,600
2,250
7,128
13,978

Deferred income comprises subscriptions and activities received in advance of their due date.

7 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.

13

2022 Total funds £ 1,250 7,373 13,026 28,530 40,591 90,770 4,645 800 8,293 4,365 19,197 391 12,833 8,763 59,287
2023 Total funds £ 6,056 6,971 12,119 24,678 41,251 91,075 8,302 1,040 10,939 3,424 12,405 3,103 8,282 16,407 63,902
2022 Restricted funds £ 1,250 - - - - 1,250 - - - 1,874 1,250 - - 3,124
(including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 December 2023 2023
2022
2023
2022
2023		 Unrestricted
Unrestricted
Endowment Endowment
Restricted		 funds
funds
funds
funds
funds		 £
£
£
£
£		 Income Grants
-
-
-
-
6,056		 Donations, legacies and Gift Aid
6,971
7,373
-
-
-		 Sales, licence fees and royalties
12,119
13,026
-
-
-		 Subscriptions
24,678
28,530
-
-
-		 Investment income
38,525
37,869
-
2,722
2,726		 Total income
82,293
86,798
-
2,722
8,782		 Expenditure Main Activities Yorkshire Archaeological Journal
5,500
4,645
-
-
2,802		 Subscriptions / donations paid
1,040
800
-
-
-		 Grants awarded
10,939
8,293
-
-
-		 Meeting rooms, lectures and excursio
2,342
2,491
-
-
1,082		 Library and archive collections
10,655
17,947
-
-
1,750		 Other professional services
2,443
391
-
-
660		 Other printed publications
8,282
12,833
-
-
-		 Digitisation and web services
14,903
8,763
-
1,504		 Main activities total
56,104
56,163
-
-
7,798
2022 Total funds £ 3,553 5,264 1,274 913 1,381 368 815 340 2,250 16,158 75,445 (159,192) (143,867) 1,438,818 1,294,951
2023 Total funds £ 3,104 7,192 1,313 1,011 864 365 47 345 2,363 16,604 80,506 90,065 100,634 1,294,951 1,395,585
2022 Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - - 3,124 - (1,874) 9,714 7,840
2023 Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - - 7,798 - 984 7,840 8,824
2023
2022		 Endowment Endowment funds
funds		 £
£		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-		 682
(9,443)		 682
(6,721)		 60,084
66,805		 60,766
60,084
2022 Unrestricted funds £ 3,553 5,264 1,274 913 1,381 368 815 340 2,250 16,158 72,321 (149,749) (135,272) 1,362,299 1,227,027
2023 Unrestricted funds £ 3,104 7,192 1,313 1,011 864 365 47 345 2,363 16,604 72,708 89,383 98,968 1,227,027 1,325,995
Expenditure (continued) Administration Administrative assistance Rent, rates and utilities Insurance Telephone and broadband Postage and stationery Other charges Printing and photocopying Bank charges Independent examination Administration total Total expenditure Net gains/(losses) on investments Net income / (expenditure) Fund balances brought forward Fund balances carried forward

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY

President D. Asquith Hon. General Secretary D. J. Buck (Acting) Hon. Treasurer K. A. L. Cox

Joint Hon. Editors G. Cookson (History), R. Martlew (Archaeology) Series Co-ordinators B.J. Barber (History) I. D. Roberts (Archaeology) Hon. Collections Liaison Officer S. Thomas Hon. Grants Officer I.D. Roberts Hon. Membership Secretary Vacant Hon. Publications Officer I. D. Roberts

HON. SECRETARIES OF SECTIONS, ETC.

Parish Register Section P. M. Litton Editor Record Series R.W.Hoyle Family History Section Vacant Industrial History Section (contact) J Suter Medieval Studies 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 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

YORKSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street, Leeds, LS10 2QW Telephone: 0113 245 7910 (Answerphone) Website: www.yahs.org.uk

E-mail

office@yahs.org.uk president@yahs.org.uk secretary@yahs.org.uk treasurer@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. For details or to search the catalogue go to: 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 cards 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. Lectures usually take place at the Swarthmore Education Centre, 2-7 Woodhouse Square, Leeds, LS3 1AD. Where possible these are also made available to an online audience.

The Membership Year runs from January to December and subscriptions for 2025 are due by 31 December 2024. The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal is published each year in August/September.