MILFORD BUILDINGS PRESERVATION TRUST ANNUAL REPORT For the Year Ended 31 March 2024 st 11 . MILFORD HOUSE Milford Buildin s Preservation Trust is a com an lirnited b uarantee Re istered in Northern Ireland with com an number N1054298 Re istered Office address as above Re istered as a ch3 rit at the Inland Revenue with reference number XR82797 Re istered with the chari Commission Northern Ireland reference number 101166
Mllford Bulldlngs Preservation Trust Cornpany Ilmited by guarantee Financial Statements Year ended 31 MarGh 2024 Contents Page Charity Reference and Administrative D8tails Trustees, Annual Report (Including Directors, Report) Independent Examiner's Repart Statement of Financial Activities Ilncluding Income and Expenditure Account) Balance Sheet 10 12 Notes to the Financial Statements Detailed Income Statement 13-17 18
Mllford Bulldings Preservation Trust Company limited by guarantee Charlty Reference and Administrative Detalls Charity registration number NIC101166 Company registratlon number N1054298 Trustees Mr Stephen Mcmanus Mary Lester Mrs Catherine Rose Marie Mcmanus Mr Ivor Thomas Edward Whitten Registered office 48 Hill Street Milford Armagh 3T60 3P8 Accountant WHR Accountants Ltd Chartere(S Accountants 26 The Square Moy Co Tyrone BT71 7SG Bankers First Trvst Bank Dungannon BT70 1AZ
Milford Buildings Preservation Trust Company limited by guarantee Trustees, Annual Report {including Dlrectors. Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 The Trustees present their report and the financial ststements of the charity for the year 3151 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Chartties" (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. Ttte financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out In notes to the accounts and comply wth the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2008 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published on 16 July 2014 (as amended by Update Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016). General Information The address of the charitable company's registered office is 48 Hill Street, MiKord Village. Co. Armagh, BT60 3PB, Trusteès of the charity Mllford Buildlngs Preservatlon Trust. The directors of the charitable company are its trustees for the purposes of charity law. The trustees who have sewed during the year and since the year end were as follows: Mrs Catherine Rose Marie Mcmanus (Chairperson) Mr Stephen Mcmanus ISecrelary} Mary Lester ITreasurer} Mr Ivor Thomas Edward Whitten Objectives and actlvltles The object of the charity as set out in our Constitution is Milford Buildings Preservation Trust. for the benefit of the nation, works to protect. promote and preserve and reslore Milford House in Co. Armagh and the built and natural heritage of the Milford area of Co. Armagh. The trust owns the Milford House collections which is a historic hous8 collection and an Accredited museum. The charity preserves the collections from Mitford House Co. Armagh. organises house tours, events, lectures, and publications to promote, encourage and educate the public in the historic, architectural importance of Milford House Co. Amagh and the Milford area of Co. Armagh. These collections are held in Trust in perpituity for the benefit of society. The charity raises awareness of the buildings at risk, in need of restoration and regeneration working with the community and local and national government to protect buildings of historic and 8rchitectural interest by encouraging them to be rnade listed buildings and monuments. This benefits the public through pride of place, saving communities which would be destroyed or negatively altered through loss of built and natural heritage and helping to regenerate the local community through heritage and tourism. The charity teaches traditional building and craft skills which might otherwise be lost. Public benefit statement These benefrts are demonstrated through the sense of wellbeing from appreciating a beautiful building, place or structure. A sense of inspiration frorn appreciating the arts, culture, heritage and science through enhancecl access to a historic building or important landmark. Milford House, Milford is a B1 listed building of national and international importance. It is famous as the first house in Ireland to have hydroeleclrictty and world famous as the birthplace and home of Williarn Mccrum who invented the penalty kick. Today it is one of the top ten listed buildings at most serious risk in Northern Ireland on the Bullt Heritage At Risk Register. There are various other buildings and structures at risk associated with this hisloric property.
Milford Buildings Preservation Trust Company limited by guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (includlng Directors. Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 The Milford area of County Amiagh has gone into rapid decline since the closure of Miiford factory in 1980. It is world famous for its industrial and sporting heritage. There are no less that eleven listed buildings in the area - three on the Built Heritage At Risk Register. Tlese buildings and structures of local, national and intemational importance need to be protected, preserved and made accessible for perp8tuity in order to prevent them being lost. The Charity's beneficiaries are the general public for the benefit of everyone regardless of social, economic, ethnic or religious background and sexual orientation. Prfvate benefit to unintended bpneficiarles The only private benefit fiowing from this purpose are Trustees and volunteers who receive trdining, are reimbursed for travelling and certain Sustenance expenses which are both incidental as they contribute to towards achieving the charity's purposes and are a necessary result or byproduct of carrying out the purposes. Potential hann and restrictions on public beneflt There is no harm flowing from this purpose. There is a sm811 charge to cover the services and facilities which are expensive to run. To ensure the poor and those with limtted income are not excluded there are free entry days and concessionary fees available. Other purposes of the charity To restore renovate and cons&rve the gardens parkland planned landscapes and other open spaces and land associated with or related to such buildings or structures. Benefits flong from this purpose The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include the advancement of the arts. culture, herilage and science through enhanced public understanding of history through access being granted to gardens parkland planned landscapes and other open spaces and land associated with or related to such hisloric buildings, important13ndmarks or structures being preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. FurtherJng our Publlc Benefits The Trust continued to aclivety work to raise awareness of Milford House which is one of the top ten Ilsted buildings at risk in Norihem Ireland. Meetings with various govemment departments has been held in latIon to this. The matter is ongoing. The Trust also continued to work to raise awareness of build and natural heritage at risk in gen8ral. Public benefft statement These benefits are demonstrated through the sense of wellbeing from appreciating a beautifijl building, place or structure. A sense of inspirdtion from appreciating the arts, culture. heritage and science through enhanced access to a historic building or important landmark. Milford House is a B1 listed building of national and intemational importance. It is famous as the first house in Ireland to have hydroelectricity and world famous as the birthplace and home of William Mccrum who invented the penalty kick. Today il is one of the top ten listed buildings at most serious risk in Northem Ireland on the Buill Heritage At RISK Register. There are various other buildings and Structures at risk associated with this historic property. The Milford area of County Armagh has gone into rapid decline since the closure of Milford factory in 1980. It is world famous for ils industrial and sporting heritage. There are no less that eleven listed buildings in the area three on the Bullt Heritage At Risk Register. These buildings and structures of Ioc21, national and international importance need lo be protected, preserved and made accessible for perpetuity in order to prevent them being lost.
Mllford Bulldings Preservation Trust Company Ilmited by guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Including Dlrectors, Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 Th& Charity's beneficiaries are the general public for th6 benefft of everyone regardless of social, economic, ethnic or religious background and sexual orientation. Milford Buildings PreseNation Trust holds in trust in perpetuity the collections, athorks and archives from Milford House. It administers a historic house in Armagh city which is now the Mccrum Miller family home. It seeks to acquire and display lost athorks from Milford Hose to tell story of Milford House from its story as a private house to Manor House School up to present day, The charity holds copyright over all the collections, athorks and archives it holds in perpetuity. The heritage it holds in Trust is worfd famous thanks to story of William Mccrum and invention of penalty kick rule. Private benefit to unintended beneficiarles The only private benefit flowing from this purpose are Trustees and volunteers who receNe training, are reirnbursed for travelling and certain sustenance expenses which are both incidental as they contribute to towards achieving the charivs purposes and are a necessary result cr byproduct of carying out the purposes. Potential hami and restrictlons on public benefit Ther8 is no harm flowing from this purpose. There is a small charge to Cover the services and f8cilities which are expensive to run. To ensure the poor and those with limited income are not excluded there are free entry days and concessionary fees available. Other purposes of the charity To restore renovate and conseNe the gardens parkland planned landscapes and other open spaces anrl18nd associated with or related to such buildings or structures. Benefits flowlng from this purpose The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage and science through enhanced public understanding of history through access being granted to gardens parkland planned landscapes and other open spaces and land associated with or related to such historic buildings, important landmarks or structure5 being preserved for the enjoyment offuture generations. Furthering our Public Benèflts In June 2022 the Trust Secretary and curator Stephen Mcmanus was admitted to St. Georges Hospital London for emergency surgeryfor severely burst appendix. He was in hospital for over a month and recovery was slow. In September 2022 he had emergency surgery in Royal Infirmary Edinburgh for a blockage relating to first surgery. He was in hospital for over a month. In November 2022 he was admitted through A& E to Craigavon Hospital for a week relating to complications from surgery. This resulted in some events being cancelled and projects delayed or postponed. Stephen McManu5 has returned to his work at Milford House, but he continues to recover, and the Trust has adapted to his taking breaks for medirAI appointments. European Open Heritage Weekend The European Open Herilase Weekend in September 2023 was a huge success and an opportunty to showcase what we have to offer for visitors. The Trust had feared with lack of promotion from European Open Heritage organizers that there would not be much interest. Indeed, EOH organizers in Belfast did not start promoting it and contacting organizers until late June. However, visttor numbers were high, and Milford House continued to be attract one of the biggest visitor numbers of the European Open Heritage weekend.
Milford Buildings Preservation Trust Company limited by guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (including Dlrectors, Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 Amiagh Food and Cider Festival Armagh Banbrtdge Craigavon Borough Council invited Milford Buildings PreseN8tion Trust to day part in the Armagh Food and Cider Festival. This coincided with European Open Heritage Weekend and ran for four days in the second weekend in September. Special house tours with themes on what the family ate and drank took place and a talk on Edwardian Etiquette. All evenls were sold out. Events included Fdwardian Etiquette talks Food themed house tours explorTng how the Mccrum family ate and entertained Amiagh Georglan Festival The Armagh Georgian FestlV81 was planned for November 2023 and 211 tickets for events sold out. The event was a huge success. Events included Georgiaft Afternoon Tea on Thursday. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were sold out as was all the Georgian House tours on each day. Unfortunately, Armagh Banbridge Craigavon Borough Council were not willing ta take bookings, SO this complicated the events as Milford Buildings Preservation Trust struggled lo work with Eventbrite booking system. Afternoon Tea Silver service Afternoon Tea in the Dining Room bookings continue to increase. The Trustees must be commended for org8nizing bookings in the curators absence and providing five star silver service. It demonstrates Milford House as a working historic house and attracts visttors whojustwanl to enjoy opportunities to socialize. Milford Buildings Preservation Trust continues to promote this and explore ways for more experiential visits to provide new audiences to enjoy the propety in different ways Paranormal Investigations The Paranormal Investigation bookings h8ve become a regular event and are extremely popular. This attracts drfferent kinds of audiences which Milford Buildings Presetvation Trust has been unsure about. However, it has been very successful and benetieial since the donations help support the running costs of the property. Website During the p8ndernic the Milford Buildings Preservation Trust website crashed and became unavailable. It requires being upgraded and redesigned. The Trust was successful in securing emergency funding which will ensure it can be redesigned. It is currently being designed by CMS Design. However, progress has been slow due to various issues. The Trust continues to develop and improve webstte. Universlty Placements Milford Buildings Preservation Trust continued to work Queens University Belfast offering postgraduates in museum studies student placements. The Trust was approached by Dr.Leonie Hannan during the summer of 2021 2nd Stephen Mcmanus put together proposals which were also advertised through Northern Ireland Museums Council. Sadly Dr. Hannan reported back that no students wanted to volunteer wtth Milford House in 2023. She said it was due to the wide variety of placements offered by other museums and historic houses. She hoped Milford Buildings Preservation Trust would offer placements in 2024 and the Trust confirmed it is delighted to continue partnership with Queens University- It is also hoped to explore student placements with University of Ulster. Conservatlon project Care of Collectlons & restoration The Trust continued to care for the collections. Restoration work of 3 Victoria Street which began in 2016 continued and hvo bedrooms were carpeted thanks to generous support of Ulster Carpets. Cataloguing and updates of existing records continue. Conservation and representation of the Drawing Room and bedrooms ontinue. Focus has been on presenting rooms according to Milford House 1930 auction catslogue.
Milford Buildlngs Preservation Trust Company limited by guarantee Trustees, Annual Report {in¢luding Directors, Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 A Collections Review Report was undertaken by Sean Madden Conservator. This was recommended by Northern Ireland Museums Council to provide a clearer understanding of the collection's conservation needs and forward plans to develop the collections. Northern Ireland Museums Council 9rantfunded the report with a sw,all contribution from Milford Buildings Preservation Trust. As part of this report the Trust has identrfied the need lo represent the room5 according to the 1930 Milford House Auction Inventory and develop the collections accordingly. This will give future generations an accurate understanding of what Milford House looked like and the opulence and grandeur in which the Mccrum family lived. The impact Covid pandemic has set back many of these projects. Equipment Glyneboume in March 2022 offered free transfer of museum display case for costume on Museum Association website. Milford Buildings Preservation Trust accepted the display case and it has been collected by Armour Systems Limited (who Glynebourne stated made the case)- After collectton Armour Systems Ltd said they didn't make the case it was made by Click Netherfield. The case was made in 2002 and valued al £10,000. Discussions are ongoing about transporting the case over but issues with Brexit have complicated the matter regarding transporL The Trust continues to work with Armour Security to arrange transport of display case with Armour Security. Acquisitions 2023 saw a major acquisition project with Milford House working in partnership with Brighton Museum and Pavilion. Brighton generously gave on loan a four poster Chinese style bed known as the 'Kings beé.. it had been on display in bedroom of King George IV for many years al Brighton Pavilion until Royal Collection gave on loan a bed belonging to George IV from Windsor Castle. The bequest also included transfer and loan temi loan of many tables and items of fumiture forrepresentation. It also included transfer of two sets of bedhanging's for the bed. Brighton Pavilion also transferred by gift a Mott Grand Piano fomiedy on display at Brighton Pavilion. Queen Victoria had tsken the original which is now at Buckingham Palace. In 1920 Queen Mary purchased and donated this Mott Piano to Brighton which matched the original taken by Queen Victoria. As Brighton Pavilion had acquired through funding another original Mott piano which was originally in the Pavilion, they offered Queen Mary's piano to Milford House. The Kings bed and Mott piano are works of art and will be star items in Milford House. The project and transfer of items is very generously funded by Ulster Garden Villages. The Rev. John Miller and his wrfe Joan continued to vèry generously donate and retum various lost ttems from Milford House in 2023. Items donated included Ivory elephants belonging to J.V Collins An Irish flag which belonged to Peggy Miller. The Rev. John Miller, his wife Joan and their daughter Margaret visited from Nalm Scotland. Pla¢es of Science Project In 2022 Milford Buildlngs Preservation Trust was awarded a £3,000 grant from Royal Society for Places of Science. The project was lo accurately recreate the famous waterfall In the Dinlng Room, recreate servants hydraulic lift, purchase servants bell system and recreate the celebrated Dishwasher R.G Mccrum had invented for Milford House. Hydraulic Lift- This was a challenge because all the Trust had was description from the12te William Mccrum Miller R.M of how he loved to visit his grandfather and play to hydraulic lift to get coal from basement. Milford House was extended at the back by Manor House School and so the lift does not survive. However the Curator Stephen Mcmanus visited Cragside House in Northumberland the first house in the world to be lit with hydroelectricity- It is similar to Milford House which was the first in Ireland to be lit with hydroelectriGily. Cragside still has its servant's hydraulic lift. The curator was able to create an information panel as to how the lift at Milford House operated with hydraulic rigger, The chairperson Catherine Mcmanus and Stephen Mcmanus visit8d Wilson Architectural Salvage.
Mllford Bulldings Preservation Trust Company Ilmited by guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (includlng Directors. Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 They saw a set of three doors with stain glass windows. It was three doors fixed together. Thls was purchased and with the help of Mens Shed Armagh volunteers reconstructed at Milford House 3 Victoria Street and now appears as entrance to hydraulic lift. Dishwasher- This project proved an immense challenge. R.G Mccrum invented dishwasher but no image of it survives. Cragside House in Northumberland has a Victorian dishwasher. It was basically a metal box which rinsed dishes. There are many image5 of early dishwashers. The curator Stephen Mcmanus found an 1885 dishwasher in the Science Museum London collection. No image was available online but when he enquired about a loan of the object Science Museum said they were moving stores and not giving out loans until 2025, The Trust was r8conciled to recreating a dishwasher but by chance Stephen Mcmanus found an Victorian Tub dishwasher for sale on ebay. It was at Kilkurdy House in Scotland. The dishwasher was purchased by transport proved a nightmare. No courier would collect it so the owners at Kilkurdy House got their staff to wrap it and put it on a pallet. However, no courier wanted to collect a pallet nor since Brexit did they want to go from Scotland to Northern Ireland. It was purchased in summer of 2022 but only delivered in February 2023. Waterfall- From the descriptions of waterf811 at Milford House the Trust knew it was a grotto in a wall and a table founlain in middle of dinning tsble that seated tsventy four people. The Trustees searched and searched online finding water features but all proved too small contemporary cr cheap. However Stephen McM2nus found through Etsy.co.uk a designer called Andy Oram at Sunbeams. He made bespoke water features in copper. Andy worked with Stephen Mcmanus to design and create a table fountain which matched the description of what was in Milford House. It is a working water feature and a suitable glass base was found. Servants bells - Milford House had an electric push button bell system. The original bell box at Milford House was lost. However the push buttons survive in some rooms to show it was an electric bell system. Antique bell boxes are readily available bul getting one large enough that had the rooms labels to match Milford House with its e1ve bedrooms proved impossible. EventLtally Stephen Mcmanus found a large bell box with no room labels and got a shop in Armagh city lo add the labels Ihat matched the downstairs rooms in Milford House. He them found on ebay.co.uk a second ele¢triG bell box which only had bedrooms on Ft and Ilsted same number of bedrooms in Milford House. Installation of these items was very generously undertaken by volunteers from Armagh Men's Shed. Conser¥ation work As result of installation of new displays and acquisitions there was reduced opening of the house in 2023 ta visitors. The installation of the Mott piano and Kings bed required closing the bedrooms and Drawing Room for representation. Decoratson work was also required in one bedroom following repairs to burst pipe in 2022. This gave opportunity in 2023 to update catalogue records and continue lo catslogue the collection. Financial review During the year, the charity reiVed £11,963 from various sources of income such as grants and donatlons. Expenditure during the year amountecl to £12,100. Of this, £2,018 was spent on costs directly for the purposes oflhe charity, with £238 of this recorded as fixed asset additions. Unavoidable overheads totaled £10,082. At the year end. the charity had funds in reserve totaling £15,786. Plans for future perlods Restoration and campaigning To continue the primary aim of Milford Buildings Preservation Trustto save Milford House Co. Armagh for benefit of the nation. To protect, promote preserve and restore Milford House Co. Amagh its gardens and parkland for public benefit. Raise awareness of plight of the house and campaign to save it. To continue to protecl, promote preserve and restore buildings and places in the area of built. industrial and social importance for public benefft.
Mllford Buildings Preservation Trust Company limited by guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Includlng Directors, Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 Conservatlon projects The Trust has already secured funding of £10,000 which conserved three of the four Mccrum family portraits in the Armagh County Museum Collection. These have been conserved by Decowell and generously given on loan to Milford Buildings Preservation Trust by Armagh County Museum. Milford Buildings Preservation Trust plans to complete this project by raising £4,000 tc conserve the last family portrait of Martha Wentworth so it can be permanently displayed at Milford House 3 Victoria Street Amiagh Collectlons Development To continu8 to search for lost contents of Milford House and acquire lost rtems. In absence of ortglnal contents. th& tharity plans to acqui items which closely match those that were in MIOrd House. To continue to develop the collections in general. This is part of a long-term major project to restore the appearance of tie house to exactly how the Mccrum family would have known it prior to 1930. In doing so it improves visitors, interaGtion and enjoyment for fijture generations. The continued long term presentation plan is to Psent Milford House as a working historic house wlh museum accreditation rather than a static museum. This combines the Hillsborough Castle model la working historic residence open to public) wth National Trust model. Barriers are avoided where possible to retain lived in atmosphere appr8ciated by the public. The charty plans to conserve and put on a permanent display of further Mccrum portraits and other family items that are in the Armagh County Museum Collection. The Trust is working with the County Museum to secure these loans and meet their requirements as these are essenti81 items that were once in Milford House. As part of the Collections DevÈlopment, it Is planned to imprave presentation of the Drawing Room, Bedrooms, Dining Room and Morning Room A Collections Care and Development Audit is planned for future to ascertain exacuy what gaps there are in the collection and conseNation needs. Further research of the 1930 Milford House auction calalogue and family papers is providing greater understsnding of Mitford House was originally fumished. Vlsitor facillties To continue to improve visitor facilities. The need for visitor facilities will be ascert8ined through the Collections Care and D8velopment Audit. Collections will continue to be conserved as funds become available. Maintenance It Is planned to continue the restoration, representation of rooms and upkeep of 3 Victoria Stet, Armagh and make more of the propety publicly accessible. It was discovered that there was problems with the roof and water was penetrating into the wall ofthe back bedroom. This was repaired by the Trust and wallpaper removed to allow the bedroom wall to dry out. Volunteer was recruited to tidy up and maintain the overgrown back garden and permanently remove problem of weeds growing in back yard. Renewal of Accreditation Full Accreditation was Renewed in 2018. Northern Ireland Museums Council recommended that 8 Conservation report be produced to identify good ¢on5ervation and environmental practice and areas for improvement. Given the circumstances of the COVID pandemic, Northern Ireland Museums Coun¢il has anncunced that renewal of Accreditation for museum in Northern Ireland WOLJld be extended by one year. Conservatlon Monitoring: The strict regulations of the initial lockdown prevented the curator accessing the historic house and 8 Trustoe undertook environmental nionitcring. When restrlctions eased and the house was opened up again the curator was able to resume working onsite.
Mllford Buildings Preservation Trust Company limited by guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (including Dire¢tors' Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 Resilience: The Trustees undertook online Resilience Training which was organized by Am7agh Banbridge Cr2igavon Borough Council. This indudes good governance, recruitment of Trustees 2nd volunteers. Ensures long term sustainability. Funding being sought for this project. Statement of compliance The truslees of Milford Building Preservation Trust, during the year, complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance provided by the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland when exercising any powers cr duties to which the guidance is relevant. Trustees, responsibilities The trustees (who are also directors of Milford Buildings Preservation Trust Limited for the purposes of company lawl are responsible for preparing the Trustees. Annual Report and the financial staternents in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requlres the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the stale of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and axpenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statemènts, the trustee5 are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then 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 disdosed and explained in the financial ststem&nts' prepare the financial statements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation, Trustees, responsibllities The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate 8ccounling records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posrtion of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets ofthe charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Small company provislons This report has been prepared in accordance with provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption. This report was approved by the board of trustees on 28th March 2025 and signed on beha of the board by: Stephen Mcmanus Charity registratlon number: NIC101166 Company registration number.. N1054298