LOWTHER CASTLE AND GARDENS TRUST

Registered charity 1125075 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Restoring and conserving Lowther Castle and gardens, promoting public access to this nationally significant building and offering access to high quality information about the site, covering history, conservation, economics and culture.

Objects

3.1.1 TO MANAGE, RESTORE AND PRESERVE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT LOWTHER CASTLE IN CUMBRIA TOGETHER WITH ITS ANCILLARY BUILDINGS AND ITS GARDENS ARBORETA WOODLANDS AND PARK OR SUCH PART OR PARTS THEREOF AS SHALL FROM TIME TO TIME BE HELD BY THE CHARITY (WHICH PREMISES AS FROM TIME TO TIME HELD BY THE CHARITY ARE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "LOWTHER") AND TO PROMOTE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT THE STUDY AND APPRECIATION OF LOWTHER AS A PLACE OF HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL INTEREST AND NATURAL BEAUTY;3.1.2 TO PRESERVE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT SUCH PICTURES STATUES FURNITURE BOOKS SILVERWARE ARCHIVES AND OTHER CHATTELS BEING OF HISTORIC OR ARTISTIC INTEREST AS THE CHARITY CONSIDERS IT APPROPRIATE TO ACQUIRE (WHETHER ON LEASE OR LOAN OR BY WAY OF GIFT OR PURCHASE OR OTHERWISE) AND TO KEEP AT LOWTHER OR ELSEWHERE (ALL SUCH CHATTELS BEING HERINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "THE CHARITY'S CHATTELS") AND TO PROMOTE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT THE STUDY AND APPRECIATION OF THE CHARITY'S CHATTELS AS FEATURES OF HISTORIC OR ARTISTIC INTEREST;3.1.3 TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES PARTICULARLY BY THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A MUSEUM OR GALLERY;3.1.4 TO PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF LOWTHER;3.1.5 TO FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE THE USE OCCUPATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE WHOLE OR ANY PART OF LOWTHER AND THE CHARITY'S CHATTELS FOR SUCH OTHER EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE PURPOSES AS THE CHARITY FROM TIME TO TIME CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE.

Area of benefit: LOCAL

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 · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a surplus of £68,550 for the year ended 31 May 2025, increasing its unrestricted reserves to £127,187. The trustees confirm that the financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, with no material uncertainties identified regarding the charity's ability to continue operations. The majority of these reserves are intended for use within the next three years to support local archaeological exploration and the renovation of Lowther Church.

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

What the accounts disclose

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
• Complaints handling
• Complaints policy and procedures
• Conflicting interests
• Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Internal risk management policy and procedures
• Investing charity funds policy and procedures
• 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
• Trustee expenses policy and procedures
• Volunteer management

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (0 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

• Dr Bryan Gray CBE DLchair · trustee of 8 other charities
• ANDREW JONATHAN SMITH · trustee of 1 other charity
• Dr SOPHIE THERESE AMBLER · trustee of 1 other charity
• Esme Charles Harlowe Lowe
• JOHN TURNER · trustee of 2 other charities

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

Operates in: Cumbria

Income and spending

Common questions