OCTAVIA HILL BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM TRUST

Registered charity 1018947 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Trust owns and maintains Octavia Hill's Birthplace House in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, a Grade II* Listed Georgian Building which contains exhibits, displays and archives of the life and work of Octavia Hill (1838 - 1912).Within the Birthplace House there are two cottages containing three Incubator Office Units , a Tearoom and a shop.

Objects

TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE LIFE AND WORKS OF OCTAVIA HILL BY THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A PUBLIC MUSEUM AND THE UNDERTAKING OF EXHIBITIONS IN SUCH A MANNER AS THE TRUSTEES SHALL THINK FIT.

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · Economic/community Development/employment · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£28k

Latest spending

£61k

Registered

1993

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £33,316 for the year ended 5th April 2025, resulting in total reserves of £1,619,998. The Trustees note that the organization is a volunteer-run entity operating in a difficult economic environment but continues to monitor operations to ensure long-term sustainability. The charity is exempt from audit and underwent an independent examination with no matters requiring attention drawn to the accounts.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Trading subsidiary: Octavia Hill Trading Limited

“The charity receives rent from the properties known as 2 & 2A South Brink, Wisbech and part of 8 South Brink, Wisbech from it's subsidiary Octavia Hill Trading Limited” — page 20

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Octavia Hill Birthplace Museum Trust (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Heritage Lottery Fund — “Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and a fundraising appeal, the reunification project was complete…” (source page)
European Regional Development Fund — “Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and a fundraising appeal, the reunification project was complete…” (source page)
Fenland District Council — “In 2011, a strip of derelict land next to the Birthplace House was purchased by the National Trust with the help of a 50% grant from Fenland…” (source page)

Property (HM Land Registry)

6 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (5 freehold); recorded price paid £520k. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Trustees · trustee networks

Colonel Mark Knight MBE DLchair · trustee of 3 other charities
David Sean Denson · trustee of 2 other charities
Ian Groome
Pamela Margaret Williams
Richard Symond Gyles Barnwell · trustee of 8 other charities
SHEILA MARY JACKMAN MBE · trustee of 1 other charity

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Cambridgeshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
05/04/2025	£28k	£61k
05/04/2024	£33k	£28k
05/04/2023	£14k	£89k
05/04/2022	£6k	£82k
05/04/2021	£58k	£71k

Common questions

Is OCTAVIA HILL BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £33,316 for the year ended 5th April 2025, resulting in total reserves of £1,619,998. The Trustees note that the organization is a volunteer-run entity operating in a difficult economic environment but continues to monitor operations to ensure long-term sustainability. The charity is exempt from audit and underwent an independent examination with no matters requiring attention drawn to the accounts. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	22/10/2013	£7k	"Preparing a heritage fundraising strategy"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	20/09/2005	£893k	"The Re-unification of Octavia Hill's Birthplace House and Enhancement of Museum and Educational Facilities."