The Shaftesbury & District Historical Society
Analysis
The Shaftesbury & District Historical Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Shaftesbury. It was registered in March 2014, 12 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it provides human resources, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending March 2025, The Shaftesbury & District Historical Society reported income of £52k and spending of £59k, spending 114% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £33k to £52k (+55%), an average of +12% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 40%. Over the whole period it spent 94% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Shaftesbury & District Historical Society sits at the 70th percentile: it is larger than about 70% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 61st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Brierley Hill Musical Theatre Company (£52k), St Anne's-On-Sea Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (£52k) and Penny Lane Development Trust (£52k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
The Society owns and operates Gold Hill Museum which is open to the public for seven months of the year;mounts two temporary exhibitions each year in addition to the regular displays;owns and maintains a local history library and archive available by arrangement for research:organises lectures in the winter;organises with the Abbey Museum an all-age learning and outreach programme
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Brierley Hill Musical Theatre Company | West Midlands | £52k |
| St Anne's-On-Sea Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society | Blackpool | £52k |
| Penny Lane Development Trust | Manchester | £52k |
| Somerset Partnership Arts Education Agency | Devon | £52k |