The Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust (founded in 1967, sometimes abbreviated WHBT) is a charitable organisation which works to preserve the architectural heritage of Wiltshire, in the West of England.
The Trust was formed in 1967, its purpose being "to preserve property and buildings of architectural and historical interest in the county for the benefit of the nation". It is both a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. [1]
The money employed by the Trust originated in a single grant made at the time of its foundation by Wiltshire County Council, funding which has been described by the Trust's President Lord Lansdowne as "a revolving capital sum". [2]
Since 1967, the Trust has been instrumental in a number of projects for the restoration and conversion of historic buildings large and small. At the end of a project, the restored building is sold, so that the Trust can recover the money laid out and look for a new project. [3]
The restoration projects of the charity have included the following buildings: [4] Barton Farm, Bradford on Avon (sold 1975); [5] [6] Number 23, South Wraxall (sold 1982); [7] Wilton Windmill, near Marlborough (completed 1976); [8] [9] Number 3, High Street, Marlborough; [10] Numbers 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 23 and 25, Church Street, Calne (1987–1992); [11] The Well House, Derry Hill (2002–2003); [12] The Ostler's House, at the Hare and Hounds public house, Pickwick (2003–2004); [13] [14] The Apple Store, Rowdeford School (2006); [15] and The Granary, Manor Farm, Yatesbury (2006–2007). [15]
Given its planned nature as a revolving fund, the articles of association of the Trust prevent it from making grants to private owners of historic buildings, but it has sometimes made contributions to special projects around Wiltshire promoted by others. A loan was made to the Merchant's House Trust in Marlborough to enable it to buy the burgage plot associated with the Merchant's House. Grants have included one to the Warminster Buildings Preservation Trust for a town centre project, another to the Friends of Lydiard Park to help with the restoration of an ice house in the grounds of that country house (a project completed in 2007), and a contribution to the Salisbury Cathedral Appeal. [16]
The Trust is a member of the Association of Preservation Trusts. [17]
After becoming redundant in the 1980s, the Grade II* listed former assize court building – built in 1835, in Grecian style using Bath stone to designs of T. H. Wyatt [18] – stood unused. The Trust assisted Kennet District Council with a study in 2006–2007, [19] and in 2018 supported the establishment of Devizes Assize Court Trust, a charity which bought the building and aims to restore it to provide a new home for Wiltshire Museum. [20] [21]
The trustees are known as 'governors'. Four are appointed by the Wiltshire Council unitary authority, and one by the Borough of Swindon; others are appointed by the existing governors of the Trust. [23]
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire and Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to the west. The largest settlement is Swindon, and Trowbridge is the county town.
Avebury is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The village is about 5.5 miles (9 km) west of Marlborough and 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Devizes. Much of the village is encircled by the prehistoric monument complex also known as Avebury. The parish also includes the small villages of Avebury Trusloe and Beckhampton, and the hamlet of West Kennett.
Calne is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, southwestern England, at the northwestern extremity of the North Wessex Downs hill range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Wilton Windmill is a five-floor brick tower mill, standing on a chalk ridge between the villages of Wilton and Great Bedwyn in the southern English county of Wiltshire.
Wiltshire is a historic county located in the South West England region. Wiltshire is landlocked and is in the east of the region.
Cherhill is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The village is about 2+1⁄2 miles (4 km) east of the town of Calne, on the A4 road towards Marlborough. The parish includes the village of Yatesbury.
Devizes is a constituency in Wiltshire, England, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Danny Kruger, a Conservative.
Charles Maurice Petty-Fitzmaurice, 9th Marquess of Lansdowne,, styled Earl of Shelburne between 1944 and 1999, is a British peer, landowner and army officer.
Derry Hill is a village in the English county of Wiltshire, in the civil parish of Calne Without. It has an elevated position at the northern edge of the Bowood House estate, about 3 miles (5 km) south-east of the centre of the town of Chippenham.
Wiltshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of England from 1290 to 1707, of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament (MPs), elected by the bloc vote system.
Elections to Wiltshire County Council were held on 7 June 2001. The whole council was up for election and the Conservatives held onto control.
Elections to Wiltshire County Council were held on 1 May 1997. The whole council was up for election and the result was no overall control, with the Conservatives as the largest party.