Who we are

Most of our member places are privately owned, lived-in, homes and gardens.  Others are charities, museums, businesses, or institutions.

Historic Houses was created in part to put the collected efforts of independent owners and custodians on a par with the great work of our much-loved national institutions such as the National Trust, and ensure equal representation for their needs and achievements.

While Historic Houses is often associated with some of the grand houses in England — major attractions drawing many thousands of paying visitors every year, the majority of our member houses in Wales are historic properties used simply as family homes, perhaps offering weddings, accommodation, or occasional private tours, but which nevertheless share with the more famous names some of the challenges and costs of maintaining an historic listed building.

Committees representing the national and regional branches represent our member houses and gardens at a local level; listening to the issues being raised by members and feeding this back through UK Council meetings. The common belief that links our owners and custodians together is together is the desire to celebrate and protect these special places.

The Wales Committee is made up of representative house members in Wales and our chair is also a board member of Historic Houses.  As with the other Committees, we are supported by a London based group of staff and advisors, but also have our own dedicated political advisor for Wales who engages with Senedd members and where required speaks to UK government members on issues affecting historic houses and gardens in Wales.

In addition to our house members, we invite members of the public and other heritage organisations to join us in support of what we do and in return a number of our places open for day visits and tours, provide accommodation, host events or can be seen on film.