About The Historic Houses Foundation

Historic Houses Foundation is an independent charity which gives critical grants to help preserve historic country houses, gardens and works of art across England and Wales.

Why we matter

Historic country houses convey a vital sense of place and beauty, enhancing well-being and promoting education and understanding of Britain’s heritage. Many have played a significant role in national and regional history and continue to inspire new generations and new audiences. However, many responsible charitable and individual owners are simply unable to cover all the costs of works on complex historic buildings.

The Historic Houses Foundation is an independent, registered charity, admired for being efficient and nimble, and governed by an experienced Board of Trustees.

Our importance

We play a key role in securing the future of Britain’s historic country houses by providing grant funding for repair and conservation where it is most urgently needed, prioritising places by their national heritage significance and the contribution they make to rural life. Our grants support a wide variety of work, from repairing castle roofs to the rescue of follies, historic gateways, garden terraces, stable yards and glasshouses.

Our grant giving is linked to public access to increase understanding and enjoyment of Britain’s extraordinarily varied built heritage and we encourage the training of new master craftspeople to ensure heritage building skills are transferred to younger generations.

Our Impact

In the past 17 years, the Foundation has given nearly £14 million to 266 projects all over England and Wales, bringing significant benefits to our communities.

Owners benefit from our Trustees’ experience as well as financial support and we promote new, sustainable uses of heritage buildings improve their future resilience. Our grants help visitors enjoy inspiring environments, contributing to health and well-being, and sharing the skills of past generations of architects, engineers and craftspeople.

Country houses open to the public are often some of the largest rural employers, key to the local economy, while the national tourism economy is heavily dependent on the appeal of Britain’s heritage.

Our History

The Historic Houses Foundation was set up in 2005 (changing its name from the Country Houses Foundation in 2019). Its origins lie with the Country Houses Association (CHA), an industrial and provident society formed in 1955 to preserve a group of important country houses for the benefit of the nation. 
 

Between 1955 and 2004, the CHA acquired and restored nine large country houses. They were converted into retirement apartments; the rental income paid for repairs and all were open to the public. 
 

When the CHA was restructured in 2004 and the properties were sold, funds were donated to the Historic Houses Foundation to ensure that the work of preserving historic buildings for public benefit continues. 

Our Trustees

  • Nicholas Barber CBE

    TRUSTEE

  • Richard Compton

    TRUSTEE

  • Norman Hudson OBE

    CHAIRMAN

  • Sir Andrew Jardine

    TRUSTEE

  • Mary King

    TRUSTEE

  • Jeremy Musson

    TRUSTEE

  • Sir John Parsons KCVO

    TRUSTEE

  • Oliver Pearcey

    TRUSTEE

  • Matthew Rice

    TRUSTEE

  • Amicia de Moubray

    TRUSTEE

Download our Annual Report

““We feel indebted to The Historic Houses Foundation for their experience, passion and dedication for saving heritage and giving custodians like ourselves the confidence to care for it.”

— Nick Ashley-Cooper, The Earl of Shaftesbury, St Giles House, Dorset   —