Burghley House Preservation Trust Limited
Analysis
Burghley House Preservation Trust Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Stamford. It was registered in May 1969, 57 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00951524). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space.
In the financial year ending January 2026, Burghley House Preservation Trust Limited reported income of £17.7m and spending of £16.5m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from January 2022 to January 2026, income grew from £9.1m to £17.7m (+96%), an average of +18% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to January 2023, when income rose by 51%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Burghley House Preservation Trust Limited sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include WCMC (£17.1m), Milton Keynes Parks Trust Limited (£17.9m) and The Climate Change Organisation (£16.8m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 57%, investments 30%, charitable activities 8.3% and donations and legacies 4.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £550k. Charitable activities took 28% of spending and raising funds 72%. Reserves of £156.8m would cover about 114 months of spending at that rate. It employed 115 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 1.3%
- Legacies 3.1%
- Charitable activities 8.3%
- Trading 57%
- Investments 30%
In the charity's own words
The Charity is established for the advancement of historic and aesthetic education which shall include the preservation of buildings of national importance, and in particular the preservation and showing of Burghley House, Stamford. The Governing Body is permitted to carry out its activities with a view to conserving the environment of land and buildings owned by the Charity.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| WCMC | Cambridge | £17.1m |
| Milton Keynes Parks Trust Limited | Milton Keynes | £17.9m |
| The Climate Change Organisation | London | £16.8m |
| The Perivoli Foundation | London | £18.4m |