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THE NORTHERN MILL ENGINE SOCIETY LIMITED

Registered charity 532259 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as BOLTON STEAM MUSEUM

Primarily to encourage interest in Industrial Heritage, particularly the stationary steam engine as widely used in the textile industry throughout the north of England. The Society has developed a museum at the Bolton Steam Museum where its collection of some 29 steam engines can be seen working in steam by the public on regular Open Days.

Causes: Education/training · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£37k
Latest spending
£19k
Registered
1974
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted reserves of £153,078 at year-end, which exceeds its stated prudent target of covering one year's normal running costs of £25,000. Per the trustees' report, the charity generated a surplus of £18,374 and has no employees, relying entirely on volunteers to operate the museum.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: one year's normal running costs of £25,000 plus a reserve for future development and heritage assets (held: £153k)
“The trustees consider it prudent to hold reserves to cover a years normal running costs of £25,000 together with a reserve to enable future development of its museum and the possible purchase of heritage assets as they may arise.” — 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.

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.

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Bolton · Lancashire

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2025£37k£19k
31/12/2024£36k£24k
31/12/2023£30k£23k
31/12/2022£27k£15k
31/12/2021£16k£12k

Common questions

Is THE NORTHERN MILL ENGINE SOCIETY LIMITED financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted reserves of £153,078 at year-end, which exceeds its stated prudent target of covering one year's normal running costs of £25,000. Per the trustees' report, the charity generated a surplus of £18,374 and has no employees, relying entirely on volunteers to operate the museum. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.