THE SCHOOL OF HISTORICAL DRESS LIMITED

Registered charity 1142188 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The study of historical dress and textiles, both of the Western World and of other cultures, basing such study on primary evidence. We are currently running short courses on a variety of subjects, including the cut and construction of eighteenth century stays, the production of linen ruffs c1600 and techniques used on leather 1400-1600.

Objects

THE CHARITY'S OBJECTS (THE OBJECTS) ARE TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC BY ESTABLISHING A NON-PROFIT MAKING SCHOOL SCHOOL TO TEACH ALL ASPECTS OF THE DESIGN AND MAKING OF HISTORICAL CLOTHING FOR THEATRE, CINEMA AND THE LIVING HISTORY MOVEMENT WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON DEVELOPING SKILLS IN HISTORICAL TAILORING.

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 · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted funds total £2,137,859, which exceeds the trustees' stated policy target of covering six months of running costs. The charity reported a net income surplus of £4,390 for the year, with total income of £1,438,080 against charitable activity costs of £199,552.

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 5 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.

• Complaints handling
• Conflicting interests
• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Investment
• Risk management
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
• Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
• Trustee expenses policy and procedures
• Volunteer management

Property (HM Land Registry)

2 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (2 freehold); recorded price paid £1.1m. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/09/2024)

Reported reserves equal ~87.9 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 7.1 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (77% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.0%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

• SUSAN WITHEROWchair
• Claire Trapnell
• Dr NABIL EL NAYAL
• HARRIET SUSANNE BARSBY
• Koy Nwadike-Spencer
• Professor Maria Anne Hayward
• VANESSA HOPKINS

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

Operates in: Southwark

Income and spending

Common questions