Great Western Society Limited
Analysis
Great Western Society Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxon. It was registered in February 1977, 49 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 company (Companies House number 00899248). It says it other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending January 2025, Great Western Society Limited reported income of £3.9m and spending of £2.1m, leaving 44% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from January 2021 to January 2025, income grew from £1.3m to £3.9m (+193%), an average of +31% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to January 2025, when income rose by 73%. Over the whole period it spent 86% 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, Great Western Society Limited sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Northern Stage (Theatrical Productions) Limited (£3.8m), Kingston Theatre Trust (£3.9m) and Unicorn Theatre London Ltd (£3.8m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 65%, charitable activities 20%, trading 14% and investments 1.0%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £2.2m. Charitable activities took 86% of spending and raising funds 13%. Reserves of £1.5m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 31 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 7.9%
- Legacies 57%
- Charitable activities 20%
- Trading 14%
- Investments 1.0%
In the charity's own words
1) To preserve, restore and operate as a permanent public exhibition and museum, steam and other railway locomotives, rolling stock and equipment, both for historical and educational purposes, and2) To make available for public reference the history, equipment and operation all with reference to both the former Great Western Railway and its successors since nationalisation on 1 January 1948
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Stage (Theatrical Productions) Limited | Newcastle Upon Tyne | £3.8m |
| Kingston Theatre Trust | Kingston upon Thames | £3.9m |
| Unicorn Theatre London Ltd | London | £3.8m |
| De LA Warr Pavilion Charitable Trust | Bexhill-On-Sea | £3.9m |