THE WALTHAM ABBEY ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION LIMITED
The charity's mission is to manage conserve and display the heritage and natural environment of the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills for the benefit of the public. We open the site to general visitors and pre-arranged tour groups, and we run an education programme for schools.The Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills Company Ltd (charity no. 1062968) merged into this charity on 31 December 2024
Objects
THE OBJECTS FOR WHICH THE CHARITY IS ESTABLISHED ARE:3.1 TO PRESERVE, MANAGE, RESEARCH, CONSERVE AND DISPLAY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND OF THE NATION AT LARGE:3.1.1 WHATEVER OF THE HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE MAY EXIST IN THE WALTHAM ABBEY ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS IN THE FORM OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS, LISTED BUILDINGS AND FEATURES OF PARTICULAR HISTORIC OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST; AND3.1.2 THE NATURAL ASPECT, FEATURES AND BIRD, ANIMAL, TREE AND PLANT LIFE OF THE WALTHAM ABBEY ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS; AND3.2 TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE PUBLIC RELATING TO THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF GUNPOWDER EXPLOSIVES PROPELLANTS AND BALLISTIC AND OTHER MISSILES AND THE PRESERVATION HISTORY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE AND NATURAL HISTORY OF THE WALTHAM ABBEY ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS (INCLUDING WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AND ACQUISITION OF EXHIBITS FOR AN INTERPRETATIVE AND EDUCATION CENTRE FOR THE PROMOTION OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GUNPOWDER PROPELLANTS EXPLOSIVES PROJECTILES BALLISTIC AND OTHER MISSILES AND A CENTRE FOR TRAINING DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES) AND TO CONDUCT OR CAUSE TO BE CONDUCTED RESEARCH INTO SUCH MATTERS AND TO PUBLISH OR OTHERWISE DISSEMINATE THE USEFUL RESULTS THEREOF.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £471,428 for the year, largely due to the consolidation of assets and liabilities from a merger with a linked charity. The trustees note that the charity is reliant on the continued financial support of its linked charity, which holds a permanent endowment fund, to maintain operational existence.
What the accounts disclose
“There is no specific level of reserves which it is appropriate to maintain, as the Permanent Endowment Fund provides the income required from returns on investments and this is monitored by the Trustees.”
“The charitable company is reliant upon the continued support of its linked charity, The Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills Charitable Foundation (Charity No. 1210355-1), which has confirmed its intention to provide ongoing financial support through a signed letter of support. Based on the work performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.” — page 9
“The Foundation owns 100% of the issued share capital of WARGM Trading Limited, a dormant company incorporated in England and Wales on 27 November 2024. The subsidiary has not traded during the year and was dormant throughout the reporting period.” — page 22
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
- Complaints policy and procedures
- 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
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£70,001–£80,000: 1)
Property (HM Land Registry)
Trustees
- Christopher Mark Pembertonchair
- Andrew Mciver
- Andrew Paul Coates
- Fiona Baxter
- James Richardson
- Je Hyung Ahn
- Kate Ellen Miners
- Rosanna Lawes
- William Michael Palin
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £495k | £967k |
Common questions
Is THE WALTHAM ABBEY ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION LIMITED financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £471,428 for the year, largely due to the consolidation of assets and liabilities from a merger with a linked charity. The trustees note that the charity is reliant on the continued financial support of its linked charity, which holds a permanent endowment fund, to maintain operational existence. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by BK Plus Audit Limited.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 09/04/2026 | £18k | Stories from the Mills: Nature through little eyes |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 24/09/1996 | £6.5m | "Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills, Essex" |
Charities like this
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE WALTHAM ABBEY ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION LIMITED | £495k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| THE WALTHAM ABBEY ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS COMPANY LIMITED | £1.1m | £70,001 - £80,000 | 1 | below | — | not going concern |
| THE ROYAL WELSH REGIMENTAL MUSEUM TRUST | £90k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |