THE CASTLE STUDIES TRUST
Grants of up to £14,000 are available to UK organisations, including local authorities, and individuals for research and other projects that enhance the understanding and knowledge of castles in the UK and abroad.
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o Application deadline: MONDAY 1st DECEMBER 2025.
o Funder: The Castle Studies Trust (founded 2012. Charity number 1148165. Total value of all grants awarded during the year ended 5 April 2024: £35,430 (2023: £25,455 (£40,924; 2022: £26,269)).
o Who can apply: not-for-profit organisations, including local authorities in the UK. UK-based individuals may also apply.
o Key words: Heritage, Archaeology, Research, Castles, Overseas, United Kingdom.
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Founded in 2012, the Castle Studies Trust provides an annual grant programme that provides a small number of grants annually up to £14,000 (with no matched funding requirement) for the study and research of castles to enhance both scholarly and public education.
This includes supporting historical and archaeological research, the promotion and dissemination of such research, and the production of other pieces of work such as reconstruction drawings that would help enhance the public understanding of castles and castle sites.
All projects should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and anchored within a time frame (for example, projects should start within 10 weeks of confirmation of a grant award). Priority is given to funding new pieces of research and increasing public understanding of lesser-known sites not managed by major heritage bodies.
Grants can be used for:
o Costs associated with carrying out a project such as travelling to and from the site, equipment, labour, services provided by third parties etc.
o Reconstruction drawings and other pieces of work such as reconstruction drawings that would promote public understanding of a castle site.
o Reviews of historical sources (as part of a Castle Studies Trust funded project).
o Scientific testing on objects/materials from a castle site, such as radiocarbon dating, and/or
o Site based survey work (geographical, architectural, topographical etc).
During the year ended 5th April 2024 grants were awarded to the following 5 applicants:
o Higham Ferrers Castle, Northamptonshire: £9,875.
o Leybourne Castle, Ken: £6,500.
o Lowther Castle, Penrith, Lake District: £7,038.
o Newhouse Castle, Lincolnshire: £9,867, and
o Penrith Castle, Cumbria: £2,050.
A number of grant made in 2025 are also listed on the Trust’s website, together with all grants awarded over the last 10 years,
Further information, guidance and a downloadable application form, which should be submitted by email, is available on the Castle Studies Trust website.
The annual deadline for applications is normally on the 1st of December annually (except when the deadline falls on a weekend, when it is brought forward to the Friday before). The deadline for 2025 is on Monday 1st December 2025.
Contact details for the Trust are:
Jeremy Cunnington
Chair of Trustees
Castle Studies Trust
Flat 3
46 Ferme Park Road
London
N4 4ED
Email: admin@