Many people have heard of English Heritage, and many have held a membership at some point in their lives. However, the organisation now faces a possible threat due to ongoing financial losses.
Should English Heritage collapse, over 400 properties could be at risk—facing abandonment or even privatisation. If privatised, these sites could become inaccessible to the public, resulting in the loss of educational value and the end of the shared enjoyment so many currently experience.
English Heritage is a charity responsible for managing historic sites across England. One notable site is Kenilworth Castle, which usually hosts a 12th-century re-enactment show. This year, however, the show has been cancelled—leading several re-enactors to speculate that the organisation may be experiencing serious financial difficulties.
There is some evidence to support this. According to the Charity Commission for England and Wales, under which English Heritage is registered, the charity has experienced approximately £10 million in losses (including depreciation of assets) each year for the past three years. Unfortunately, only the past five years of financial reports are publicly available, making it difficult to determine the full picture of English Heritage’s financial health.
In their latest financial report, English Heritage stated:
“Unrestricted reserves amount to £40.1 million (2023: £55.7 million). The decrease in unrestricted reserves by £15.6 million is the effect of trading activities resulting in net expenditure of £15.7 million.”
That’s a significant drop. While they do have restricted reserves of £8.7 million and a restricted endowment reserve of £1.7 million, these funds aren’t necessarily accessible. Based on previous spending patterns, and assuming no change in losses (an unlikely but useful estimate), this financial situation may only be sustainable for around three years.
Further uncertainty is introduced by rising inflation, increased contractor fees (due to wage and material costs), and a shrinking government support system. This was the first year English Heritage received no government grants.
All of these pressures suggest the organisation may struggle to survive unless it receives some form of financial relief or subsidy. Compounding the issue is the fact that tourism has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, further limiting revenue.
We reached out to English Heritage for comment. They neither confirmed nor denied any current financial difficulties.
