Recent Projects: Buildings

 

A selection of projects awarded grants by the Historic Houses Foundation (formerly the Country Houses Foundation) in 2018 and 2019.

Westonbirt Gardens, Gloucestershire

Funds will cover the restoration of three garden benches in the Victorian gardens at Westonbirt. The benches are a key feature in the gardens designed by Lewis Vuillamy for the Holford family in 1874, now looked after by Westonbirt School.

Abercamlais, 

South Wales

You can only reach the gardens and grounds at Amercamlais in the Breacon Beacons via a series of unusual bridges. Grant aid is being offered for the repair of an Elizabethan bridge which was damaged by floods in October 2018. 

Bodrhyddan Hall,

North Wales

The formal parterre at Bodryddan was designed by W E Nesfield in 1874. Urgent repairs to these charming garden features will be funded by the Historic Houses Foundation.

Gwydir Castle, 

North Wales

Follow-up funding is needed for the building of a flood wall to protect the Grade I castle and gardens from the threat of flooding from the River Conwy. A breach of the unfinished wall caused extensive flooding of the grounds and cellars in March 2019.

Tickenham Court, Somerset

Having water and snow coming through the roof of a rare medieval hall house, the sort of place lived in by a gentleman’s family over 500 years ago, is a call to action. The Historic Houses Foundation have responded with a grant towards repairs.

Nether Winchendon House, Buckinghamshire

Grant aid will cover the costs of replacing a structural beam that supports the South West turret and its Elizabethan bay window, preserving one of the Tudor features of this quintessentially English house.

Seaton Delaval, Northumberland

Funds have been granted for the restoration of the West Staircase, part of a major restoration project at Seaton Delaval Hall which will open up new parts of this palace of the English Baroque to visitors.

Letton Hall, Norfolk

Funds for essential repairs to the Georgian sash windows of Sir John Soane’s first country house commission, an elegant villa of white Norfolk brick.

Kelmscott Manor, Gloucestershire

Vital roof repairs at Arts & Crafts pioneer, William Morris’ home, Kelmscott Manor, where once in William Morris’ words, “the tillers and herdsmen slept".

The Princes

Foundation

Continuing support is provided for The Princes Foundation, where the Historic Houses Foundation has contributed to the Building Crafts programme for the past 8 years. The Prince's Foundation supports people to make the most of their community in education; projects and attractions,

Markenfield Hall,

Yorkshire

Storms over the winter have caused extensive damage to the roof of one of the 16th century barns at the entrance to Markenfield Hall. Grants have been offered to offset the cost of repairs.

Sulgrave Manor,

Oxfordshire

The ongoing restoration of this Tudor manor house, the ancestral home of the family of the first US President George Washington, will receive funding from the Historic Houses Foundation.

Heritage Funding

Directory

Raising money for heritage projects in England has been made significantly easier thanks to support from the Historic Houses Foundation which has allowed The Heritage Alliance and The Architectural Heritage fund to pool their resources and publish a directory of sources of funding.

Haddon Hall, Derbyshire

Urgent repairs to the structure of Haddon Hall’s Long Gallery and chapel window are being funded to restore perhaps “the most perfect house to survive the Middle Ages”.

Cragend Farmhouse, Northumberland

Restoring a pioneering agricultural building which formed part of a model farm owned by William, Lord Armstrong of Cragside; funds will allow visitors access to both the building and 1890s hydraulic engine.

Eyam Hall, Derbyshire

Emergency funds to repair a chimney above the Tapestry Room as the Wright family, who have owned Eyam Hall for eleven generations, take their 17th century house back from the National Trust. 

Wick Court, Gloucestershire

Repairs to the Elizabethan roof at Wick Court, one of three working farms in the UK operated by the charity, Farms for City Children.

Springfield House, Hackney

Contributing funds to the restoration of the Regency villa that lies at the heart of Springfield Park, an important green space for today’s residents of Hackney alongside the River Lea.