Heritage Conservation Trust
The HHA supports the work of the Heritage Conservation Trust which assists historic houses and gardens open to the public. The HCT gives grants for three purposes:
- The conservation, maintenance and restoration of works of art and objects of outstanding artistic, scientific and historic interest
- Educational, access and training initiatives in and about historic houses and gardens
- Research projects linked closely to the conservation of the historic or artistic contents of houses
The Heritage Conservation Trust (HCT) was created as a charity in 1990 on the initiative of historic house owners and during its life so far, has focused on the first of its purposes, assisting the restoration of paintings and drawings in some forty historic houses, open to the public, with some £200,000 of grant aid. Recently, the HCT has decided that it should seek to develop its existing objects and to encourage access, education and research initiatives in historic properties, alongside its continuing work to assist restoration of works of art.
The HCT’s own resources have continued to be limited due to low interest rates. However, generous donations, from individuals, the organisers of the annual Cornforth Lectures hosted by Christie’s, regional groups of the Friends of the HHA and HHA Regions themselves have continued to boost its activities. The Trust is dependent on these for its future development.
In the twelve months to the end of August 2011, donations to the Trust amounted to £12,910. The HCT approved total grants in the same period of £12,065, including £5000 to restore ‘The Circumcision’ by Luca Giordano at Raby Castle, and £4875 for the portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart ‘The Young Pretender’ by Laurent Pecheux at Stanford Hall.
The HCT gave its first grant towards an education project which was awarded to to Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire for Hands on Doddington: a series of learning outreach workshops and activities which will taken into schools.