THE BENTLEY PRIORY BATTLE OF BRITAIN TRUST
The Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust runs Bentley Priory Museum which tells the fascinating story of Bentley Priory, a Grade 2* listed house that was designed by Sir John Soane. The house has a rich history, most famously as the Headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. The museum tells the story of the people who won that Battle and Bentley Priory's broader history.
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £5,452 for the year ended 31 December 2024, resulting in total funds decreasing from £732,944 to £727,492. The trustees have adopted a reserves policy targeting a total of £200,000, and the actual unrestricted reserves of £378,225 are above this stated target. The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and has no disclosed trading subsidiaries or related-party transactions.
What the accounts disclose
“The interim total level of reserves for 2017 was set at £100,000 with the expectation of an increase to £200,000 in future years provided that the Museum’s core revenue streams reach their growth targets.” — page 11
Property (HM Land Registry)
Trustees
- Ian Craig Morrison CBEchair
- AIR COMMODORE IAN RICHARD WILLIAM STEWART
- Air Marshal Cliff Spink
- Air Vice-Marshal Clive Bairsto
- Gary Clive Headland DL
- Karen Barker
- NATASHA BROWN
- Sangita Unadkat
- Wg Cdr ERICA FERGUSON OBE
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £353k | £358k |
| 31/12/2023 | £365k | £401k |
| 31/12/2022 | £221k | £353k |
| 31/12/2021 | £252k | £315k |
| 31/12/2020 | £197k | £420k |
Common questions
Is THE BENTLEY PRIORY BATTLE OF BRITAIN TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £5,452 for the year ended 31 December 2024, resulting in total funds decreasing from £732,944 to £727,492. The trustees have adopted a reserves policy targeting a total of £200,000, and the actual unrestricted reserves of £378,225 are above this stated target. The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and has no disclosed trading subsidiaries or related-party transactions. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 11/02/2026 | £114k | "'Flying Stress': Mental Health and Well-being within RAF Fighter Command during the Second World War" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 02/10/2024 | £86k | "'The Eyes and Ears of the RAF': Commemorating the Royal Observer Corps and its formation in 1925." |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 13/12/2023 | £10k | "RNLI 200: Remembering the Rescue of 'The Few'" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 18/01/2023 | £83k | "#DYC. 'Clerk Special Duties': The Untold Story of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force within 'The Dowding System'" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 05/03/2020 | £69k | "Bentley PrioryÂ’s Battle of Britain & Cold War Bunker: Defending Britain from Nazi & Nuclear Threat" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 01/12/2016 | £48k | "Dowding & World War I: The Making of a Commander" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 14/06/2011 | £698k | "Bentley Priory" |