THE BRITISH AGRICULTURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Registered charity 251851 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

To promote the study of all aspects of agricultural history and the history of the rural economy and society, through the publication of a biannual journal, a newsletter and a website.

Objects

THE OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY SHALL BE TO PROMOTE, ENCOURAGE, FOSTER AND COORDINATE THE STUDY AND UNDERSTANDING OF AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL HISTORY, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE BRITISH ISLES.

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 · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£45k

Latest spending

£49k

Registered

1967

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the Society made a loss of £3,779 in the year ended 31 January 2025, compared to a surplus in the previous year, driven by higher production costs and lower income from subscriptions and journal sales. However, the trustees report that the Society remains in a healthy financial position with unrestricted undesignated reserves of £75,100, which they consider sufficient to cover fluctuations without selling investments.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: spend income received while setting aside surpluses for future projects and grants (held: £75k)

“The Society’s policy is, taking one year with the next, to spend the income it receives in pursuit of its objectives, while setting aside any surpluses to cover future projects, and to generate future income to support the Society’s grants and awards.” — page 4

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Investment
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures

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

Trustees · trustee networks

Dr Alex Spike Gibbs
Dr Carol Beardmore
Dr Derek Shepherd
Dr Elizabeth Rhodes
Dr Jane Rowling
Dr John MORGAN
Dr Mark Hailwood
Dr Paul Simon WARDE
Dr SARAH SPOONER
Dr Samantha Shave BA MSc PhD
Dr Sarah Holland
Professor Annie Tindley
Professor Nicola Verdon

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

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/01/2025	£45k	£49k
31/01/2024	£51k	£33k
31/01/2023	£36k	£34k
31/01/2022	£39k	£37k
31/01/2021	£34k	£46k

Common questions

Is THE BRITISH AGRICULTURAL HISTORY SOCIETY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Society made a loss of £3,779 in the year ended 31 January 2025, compared to a surplus in the previous year, driven by higher production costs and lower income from subscriptions and journal sales. However, the trustees report that the Society remains in a healthy financial position with unrestricted undesignated reserves of £75,100, which they consider sufficient to cover fluctuations without selling investments. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.