Historic Houses awards grants to six member places in 2025 Small Projects Grant Scheme

Historic Houses member places are home to a wealth of stories waiting to be told. But too often day-to-day financial pressures divert resources away from the projects to explore archives or provide engagement with buildings or collections, and public funding for those activities can be hard to come by.

Last year, Historic Houses launched its Small Projects Grant Scheme, with the purpose of directly funding projects at member places which may not have the resources to carry them out independently. This first round of funding acted as a catalyst for four fantastic projects and Historic Houses is thrilled to announce grant support for a further six projects in 2025.

Inveraray Castle

“Leading Ladies” aims to commission the reproduction of two historic garments depicted in portraits within Inveraray Castle. The project is scheduled to run from April to September 2025, with the garments displayed during the 2025 season and beyond.

The primary goal of the project is to enhance the interpretation of the historic portraits at the Castle by providing visitors with a tangible representation of the clothing worn by the subjects. This will be achieved through research into the original garments, including their materials and construction techniques, which will then inform the creation of accurate reproductions which will be partly sewn by a professional dressmaker at the Castle forming part of the visitor experience this year.

Penpont Estate

“Penpont: Land of poetry and song” aims to build on the Penpont Land Library established in 2024 with the support of the Small Projects Grant Scheme; a collaboration of the Penpont Project Partnership, which includes the Penpont Estate, the charity Action for Conservation, tenant farmers, and a Youth Leadership Group.

The project aims to further enhance this unique educational space to support engagement of intergenerational groups from the Bannau Brycheiniog area, addressing rural isolation, and promoting physical and mental well-being. It also seeks to address national issues like falling literacy rates and youth eco-anxiety. The project is expected to have a lasting legacy by enriching Penpont’s education offering, increasing local awareness of the Land Library and community arts events, and fostering new partnerships and literary connections.

Penshurst Place

“Who Are the Two Boys?” is an exciting new research project in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery. The project aims to investigate an enigmatic painting at Penshurst Place known as the ‘Double Portrait’, which depicts two teenage boys, one of whom is of African heritage, and is dated from 1626.

As a rare instance of a full-length portrait of a person of colour in early modern English art, who is not shown in a subaltern position, the project has the potential to answer important questions about the identity of sitters and their histories. Investigating the painting through technical analysis and research promises to yield rich stories, which can then be told through interpretation and display.

The Bishop’s Palace

“The Gardens & Wildlife of The Bishop’s Palace Outreach Project”, in collaboration with Museum To You, aims to make The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens accessible to community members who are currently unable to visit and to rekindle memories for past visitors, fostering a stronger connection with this local landmark.

The project aims to increase engagement with harder-to-reach, older adult community groups by educating them about life at The Bishop’s Palace, both present and past. Sessions will combat social isolation, enrich lives, and build community across a diverse range of care homes with participants benefiting from increased social interaction, learning and knowledge sharing, and feelings of connection and community beyond the care setting.

The Charterhouse

“Every Picture tells a Story” aims to create four new co-curated displays from The Charterhouse’s extensive collection of prints and drawings, which depict the history of the buildings and its inhabitants from the 14th century to the present day.

The Charterhouse will work collaboratively with its almshouse residents to create new permanent exhibition spaces that will tell the story of The Charterhouse and its residents, both past and present, through researched interpretation, labelling, and hanging schemes.

Tregrehan

Tregrehan aim to create a database of the garden’s globally important plant collection with GPS locations, enhanced collections management, and improved public engagement.

The project aims to allow the wider public and academic researchers to learn about the collections through the garden’s website whilst improving onsite interpretation that explores the conservation work and Champion Trees on display. The establishment of the innovative digital system will allow for ongoing and reliable recording, supporting sound scientific practice and future research collaborations.