THE DENYS EYRE BOWER BEQUEST
The primary objective of the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest is the preservation and maintenance of Chiddingstone Castle and its contents, including the collections of the late Denys Eyre Bower, in perpetuity for the benefit of the public.
Objects
THE MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION IN PERPETUITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC OF: (I). CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE AND ITS GROUNDS AS A PLACE OF BEAUTY AND HISTORIC AND NATURAL INTEREST BEING THE LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS THEREON SPECIFIED IN PART I OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE SAID SCHEME. (II). THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS AS ITEMS OF AESTHETIC, HISTORIC, OR OTHER EDUCATION VALUE.
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity's general funds were in a deficit of £988,573 at the end of the year, a position the trustees expect to remain for many years. To support operations, the charity's endowment funds have advanced funds to the general funds, creating interfund indebtedness. The trustees consider the charity to be in a sufficiently strong financial position to continue as a going concern despite rising energy costs and a depressed economic climate.
What the accounts disclose
“The non-fiction publication of ‘Do not be troubled’ is currently sold in the Chiddingstone Castle gift shop. This is authored by our trustee Graham Dixon. The book is sold at £8.50 with £3.50 being donated to the charity and remainder being paid to Graham Dixon. We sold 32 in 2023 and 31 in 2024.” — page 33
“The brother of Nancy Olden, trustee of the charity, was reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses totalling £nil (2023: £50) in connection with voluntary work carried out for the charity.” — page 33
“The non-fiction publication of ‘Do not be troubled’ is currently sold in the Chiddingstone Castle gift shop. This is authored by our trustee Graham Dixon. The book is sold at £8.50 with £3.50 being donated to the charity and remainder being paid to Graham Dixon. We sold 32 in 2023 and 31 in 2024.” — page 33
“The brother of Nancy Olden, trustee of the charity, was reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses totalling £nil (2023: £50) in connection with voluntary work carried out for the charity.” — page 33
“The non-fiction publication of ‘Do not be troubled’ is currently sold in the Chiddingstone Castle gift shop. This is authored by our trustee Graham Dixon. The book is sold at £8.50 with £3.50 being donated to the charity and remainder being paid to Graham Dixon. We sold 32 in 2023 and 31 in 2024.” — page 33
“The brother of Nancy Olden, trustee of the charity, was reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses totalling £nil (2023: £50) in connection with voluntary work carried out for the charity.” — page 33
“Group accounts have not been prepared for the charity and its subsidiary company, Chiddingstone Castle Events Limited, as the group qualifies as a small group as defined by Financial Reporting Standards.” — page 20
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints 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
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2021)
Trustees
- Bower Bequest Trustee Company Limited
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £424k | £519k |
| 31/12/2023 | £394k | £442k |
| 31/12/2022 | £422k | £385k |
| 31/12/2021 | £811k | £388k |
| 31/12/2020 | £374k | £358k |
Common questions
Is THE DENYS EYRE BOWER BEQUEST financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity's general funds were in a deficit of £988,573 at the end of the year, a position the trustees expect to remain for many years. To support operations, the charity's endowment funds have advanced funds to the general funds, creating interfund indebtedness. The trustees consider the charity to be in a sufficiently strong financial position to continue as a going concern despite rising energy costs and a depressed economic climate. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 07/10/1997 | £75k | "Chiddingstone Castle Stable Block - Repairs" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE EDWARD CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £5k |
| THE SALISBURY POOL CHARITY COMPRISING THE FIRST MOIETY ESTABLISHED BY CLAUSE 2 OF THE DEED OF DECLARATION DATED 23RD MARCH 1976 | 1 | £500 |
Charities like this
- SNODHILL CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST
- ARUNDEL CASTLE TRUSTEES LIMITED
- LEEDS CASTLE FOUNDATION
- WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST
- THE CHOLMONDELEY GARDENS TRUST
- Duke of Lancaster's Foundation
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE DENYS EYRE BOWER BEQUEST | £424k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SNODHILL CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST | £110k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| ARUNDEL CASTLE TRUSTEES LIMITED | £5.7m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LEEDS CASTLE FOUNDATION | £12.7m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST | £223k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE CHOLMONDELEY GARDENS TRUST | £305k | — | 0 | above | — | noted |