Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust Limited
Analysis
Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Alresford. It was registered in May 1982, 44 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01126590). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust Limited reported income of £3.7m and spending of £3.8m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 4 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2025, income fell from £4.6m to £3.7m (-21%), an average of -7.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income dropped by 16%. Over the whole period it spent 99% 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, Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust 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 High Peak Theatre Trust Limited (£3.7m), The Forum Trust Limited (£3.7m) and The Degrees Initiative (£3.6m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 81% and donations and legacies 17%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £133k. Charitable activities took 7.2% of spending and raising funds 87%. It employed 44 people.
Data notes from the register: The regulator lists this charity's latest annual return or accounts as overdue.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 13%
- Legacies 3.6%
- Charitable activities 1.0%
- Trading 81%
- Investments 0.6%
- Other 1.1%
In the charity's own words
The Charity's objects are to preserve, restore, maintain, operate, exhibit, educate, instruct, stimulate, promote and encourage interest in heritage railways, locomotives, rolling stock, buildings, artifacts and equipment and to foster and support railway preservation. It provides strategic direction to its subsidiary, Mid-Hants Railway Ltd, which operates the Watercress Line.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| High Peak Theatre Trust Limited | Derbyshire | £3.7m |
| The Forum Trust Limited | Norwich | £3.7m |
| The Degrees Initiative | 256-260 Old Street | £3.6m |
| Achieve Lifestyle | Surrey | £3.7m |