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History and Aims

     

History | Aims and Policy | Financial Assets and Statements | The Board of Trustees

A Brief History of the Trust
The Roman Research Trust was established as a British Registered Charity in January 1990. Its formation as a charitable Trust to support education and research in Romano-British Archaeology was originally based around the excavation at the Littlecote Roman villa directed by Bryn Walters and was successively supported, financially and in other ways, by Sir Seton Wills and Mr Peter de Savary. It was intended that the work at Littlecote would remain an important element in the Trust’s objectives but that it would have a broader remit, focussing on Romano-British archaeology in the county of Wiltshire and neighbouring counties to the west. Not long after the establishment of the Trust, the organisation of the Friends of the Roman Research Trust was founded, to act as a support group and fund-raising body for the Trust which would also organise activities connected with sites and projects of interest in Romano-British archaeology.

In 1991 the financial position of the Trust improved dramatically as a result of the unconditional bequest to it by Mrs Audrey Barrie Brown of Fresden Farm. The financial circumstances surrounding the legacy were such that the Trust could not prudently retain ownership and the property was sold by auction. The proceeds were invested to provide an income from which the Trust might make grants in support of Romano-British archaeology.The Friends of the Roman Research Trust was later re-formed as a separate and independent organisation, called the Association for Roman Archaeology and having no connection with the Roman Research Trust.

Aims and Policy of the Trust
The Trust Deed of the RRT states that the primary objectives of the Trust are to “advance the education of the public in the science of archaeology by promoting the research and excavation of archaeological sites in particular in the county of Wiltshire and its neighbouring counties to the west.”

The objectives of the Trust will ordinarily be achieved through financial support of the following types of activity:

•   excavation, recording, analysis and publication of Romano-British archaeological research not otherwise funded or where existing funds are insufficient,

•   Romano-British archaeological exhibitions in museums and other places accessible to the public,

•   scholarly research into aspects of the Roman occupation of Britain by postgraduate students and professional archaeologists,

•   supporting visiting lecturers speaking on Romano-British topics to schools, colleges, historical societies, etc.,

•   funding of seminars and conferences on Romano-British Archaeology,

•   other activities consistent with the Trust deed from time to time determined by the Board

Financial Assets and Statements
The capital assets of the Trust consist principally of monies acquired as a result of two bequests, by Mrs Audrey Barrie Brown and Mrs. Beatrice Norman. The capital value of the Trusts assets as at June 2002 was … Most of the Trust’s capital is invested in a balanced portfolio of equities from intended to provided distributable income and capital growth in excess of inflation. The Trust generally aims to utilise approximately £30,000 per annum for grants to Romano-British archaeology and its own running expenses.

The Trust has also benefited from the gift of an archaeological archive and library by Mr. David Smith, formerly Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, and the bequest of slides and other archaeological papers by Mr. Andrew Powell.

The Composition of the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees normally meets twice a year, in May and December. The Trustees normally include amongst their number:

•   two or more distinguished classical scholars one at least being a leading Romano-British archaeologist,

•   a lawyer who will act as Hon. Legal Adviser,

•   an accountant who will act as Hon. Treasurer

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