## **HERVEY HERITAGE SOCIETY** **Charity Commission No. NIC107432** **Date registered: 15/04/2020** |**CONTENTS**|**Pages**| |---|---| |**Trustee’s Report**|**3 - 5**| |**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**6**| |**Income & Expenditure / Balance Sheet**|**7**| 2 ## **HERVEY HERITAGE SOCIETY** ## **ANNUAL REPORT** ## **2024 - 2025** The Hervey Heritage Society was formed as an unincorporated organisation on 3 April 2019. It opened a Community Account at Barclay’s Bank on 16 November 2018 and was granted Charitable Status on 15 April 2020. The trustees present their report for the year **2024-2025.** ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** **Registered charity name** Hervey Heritage Society **Charity registration number** NIC107432 **Registered Office** 18 Lodge Park COLERAINE BT51 1UN ## **Bankers:** Barclay’s Bank PLC, 27/29 Church Street, COLERAINE, BT52 1AW ## **The Trustees:** The Trustees who served the charity during the period were as follows: Mr Jim Hunter (Acting Chair) Mr Jerry Sayers (Secretary) Ms Loretto Blackwood (Treasurer) Mr Ken McCormack Mr Ian Bartlett Ms Hester McCunn Mrs Helen Mark Mr Frank Carey (Chair - resigned 2024) 3 **ANNUAL REPORT 2024 – 25** ## **The purposes of the Charity are to:** **1. Increase public understanding and raise awareness of the life and legacy of the Earl Bishop by** : - 1.1 creating, maintaining and developing a Heritage Trail taking in places of interest associated with the Earl Bishop extending from the Giant’s Causeway to the City of Derry; - 1.2 providing information in all forms of media; - 1.3 erecting a memorial and producing a bust of the Earl Bishop. **2. Foster a sense of community by:** - 2.1 facilitating organisations, interest groups and individuals to participate in discovering and preserving knowledge, encouraging and celebrating a sense of place, civic pride and ownership and an appreciation of all aspects of local heritage; - 2.2 supporting strong inter-community relationships as exemplified by the Earl Bishop; - 2.3 fostering social and economic regeneration in areas along the Heritage Trail. ## **REPORT Period 2024 - 2025** The Society held meetings during the period of the Report on **14 April 2025** at Hezlett House Castlerock; on **7 February 2025** in St Columb’s Park House, Derry/Londonderry; on **25 October 2024** in Hezlett House, Castlerock; and on **27 June 2024** at St Columb’s Court Derry. The Annual General Meeting was held at St Columb’s Court Derry on **27 June 2024** There has been a considerable amount of business transacted at these meetings: - **a) Membership.** The Society welcomed one new member, Valerie Morgan. - **b) Review of Constitution.** It was noted that the Society was formally constituted on 16 March 2016. The Society had operated prior to this as a project within the Causeway u3a.A sub-group was appointed to review the constitution, which made the following recommendations to the meeting on 7 February 2025: - The Committee should continue to hold at least 4 meetings per year with at least 3 Trustees for a quorum, - A list of members should be maintained recording full names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses- Loretto Blackwood has compiled a definitive list, - The number of Trustees should be greater than 3 and less than 12, - A recommendation should be made to the next AGM that Trustees must act by a majority decision and in the case of a split vote, the Chair has the casting vote. - **c) Presentation to North Coast Association.** Ken McCormack and Gerard Harvey gave a well-researched and fascinating presentation to the North Coast Association at Portballintrae to a capacity audience. - **d) Benevenagh Lowland Partnership Scheme.** It was noted that the Benevenagh Lowland Partnership Scheme had cleared the wild growth covering the Hervey-Bruce tomb in Dunboe Graveyard. It was also noted that it was planned to transfer Downhill Forest South to the National Trust, who intended to provide forest tracks, waymarking and information boards. The Society has been requested to assist with historic information for the boards. - **e) Downhill House Survey.** Keith Gilmour has continued with his assiduous work on two sets of plans and elevations of Downhill House, one for 1790 and the other for 1890. Ken McCormack and Jim Chestnut have provided assistance with the project. This intricate and complex work has been favourably received by Heather McLachlan, Director for the National Trust Northern Ireland. On completion it is hoped to offer a building ‘walk through’ - **f) Contact with National Trust Ickworth.** Ickworth plans to mount an exhibition on the Earl Bishop in 2026. Two members of their research group, Mr & Mrs McGee, have visited Ireland to meet members of the Society and gather information about his life and times in Ireland. During their visit they attended a briefing from Ken McCormack, a presentation from Ken assisted by Gerard Harvey and tours of St Columb’s Cathedral and the Long Tower Chapel arranged by Ken. Jim Hunter took them on a tour of the Earl Bishop Trail. Hester McCunn, Val Morgan and Gerry Sayers met them at Downhill, where Hester provided a tour of the Demesne. During their visit they travelled to the Giant’s Causeway. Consideration is being given for a party from the Society to visit the Exhibition. 4 - **g) Walks and Talks.** This year’s Walks and Talks programme commenced on 17 March 2025. Laurence Ghisoiu has arranged, as a trial, for this programme to be advertised and marketed by the Causeway Coast & Glens. - **h) Cabina Family.** The Society has continued its detailed research regarding two young men from the Italian Cabina family, whose father was likely to have been known to the Earl Bishop. One was brought by Henry Hervey Bruce to Downhill and the other by him to Dublin. These young . 5 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORTTO THE CHARttY TRUSTEES OF HERVEY HER￿AGE SOCIEtY I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2025 v4hi¢h are set out on the following pages. Respective responsibllltles of charitytrustees and examiner As the charity's trustees you are responsible forthe preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act {Northern Ireiandl 2008. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given bythe Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65{91{b) of the Charities Act state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's report I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination w8s carried out in accordance with the general Directions given bythe Charity Commission for Northern Ireland undersection 6519)Ib} ofthe Charities Act. The examination included a reviewofthe accounting records kept bythe charityand a comparison ofthe accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and sèeking explanations from you as charitytrustees concerning any such matter5. My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe". l. That accounting records V￿re not kept in accordance viith section 63 of the Charities Act 2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records 3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Chartties Act 4. Thatthere isfurtherinformation needed fora proper understandingofthe accounts to be reached. Independent examiner's ststement I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters11) to141 listed above 8nd. in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. I have found no matters that require drawingto your attention. Signed: Signed". Name: Address: fd Date: 13 £oL HERVEY HERITAGE soaErY INCOME & EXPENDITURE Ac£ourt i April 2024to 31 Marth 202S INCOME 2024- 2025 2023 - 2024 Balance a5 at 01 April 2024 421.78 247.78 Grants.. Organisation National Trust NT- Downhill Tours Fundraising Donation5 325.CM) 330.00 Totsl Income Received 325.00 330.00 EXPENDITURE Stationery & Postage PublicitylAdvertising Printrng Events & Activitie5 Bank Charge5 Fees (External Examiner) Sundry Expenditure Insurance 60.00 96.00 96.00 156.00 156.00 Surplus of Income/Expen￿rture 169.IX) 174.00 A¢￿￿t Balan￿ as at 31 Mar X125 590.78 3110312024 421.7B HERVEY HERITAGE soaETY IApril Z024- 31 Mar 2025 Balance Sheet a5 at 31 March 2025 Current Assets Bank Debtor5 2024- 2025 590.78 202>2024 421.78 0.00 421.78 Creditors Net Current Assets This income and expenditure rekv)rt has been produced from the inf0M￿tiOn supplied by the ccffftmittee of HERVEY HERrrAGE soaEtY Aaing Chair ré Treasurer JA Hunter