The Powell-Cotton Trust
Also known as: The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex Park
THE PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF A MUSEUM IN OR NEAR BIRCHINGTON FOR THE EXHIBITION TO THE PUBLIC OF SPECIMENS OF NATURAL HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY (PARTICULARLY SUCH SPECIMENS COLLECTED BY PERCY HORACE GORDON POWELL-COTTON) AND, IF THE GOVERNORS THINK FIT, OF SPECIMENS OF OTHER SCIENCES AND OF THE FINE AND USEFUL ARTS.
Activities & Mission
THE PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF A MUSEUM IN OR NEAR BIRCHINGTON FOR THE EXHIBITION TO THE PUBLIC OF SPECIMENS OF NATURAL HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY (PARTICULARLY SUCH SPECIMENS COLLECTED BY PERCY HORACE GORDON POWELL-COTTON) AND, IF THE GOVERNORS THINK FIT, OF SPECIMENS OF OTHER SCIENCES AND OF THE FINE AND USEFUL ARTS.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Local Authority
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 4% of UK Heritage charities with income over £10M (sample: 54). How is this calculated?
Higher than 76% of UK Heritage charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 54% of UK Heritage charities with income over £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
One or more years show a significant change in income (over ±100%) compared with the prior year. This usually reflects a merger, transfer of activities, restated accounts, or a one-off legacy — not necessarily a real change in operating scale. See the methodology for context.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £19,320,525 | £1,293,778 | £1,250,758 | £27,341,731 | £27,000,285 | 29 / 25 |
| 2024 | £3,005,715 | £1,218,273 | £1,184,337 | £6,633,728 | £6,588,674 | 29 / 25 |
| 2023 | £3,580,538 | £1,088,018 | £1,081,072 | £4,655,570 | £1,017,017 | 28 / 25 |
| 2022 | £280,337 | £1,018,169 | 0 / 25 | |||
| 2021 | £860,555 | £942,425 | £938,382 | £2,992,299 | £2,965,394 | 32 / 20 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Powell-Cotton Trust
What does The Powell-Cotton Trust do?
THE PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF A MUSEUM IN OR NEAR BIRCHINGTON FOR THE EXHIBITION TO THE PUBLIC OF SPECIMENS OF NATURAL HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY (PARTICULARLY SUCH SPECIMENS COLLECTED BY PERCY HORACE GORDON POWELL-COTTON) AND, IF THE GOVERNORS THINK FIT, OF SPECIMENS OF OTHER SCIENCES AND OF THE FINE AND USEFUL ARTS.
How much income did The Powell-Cotton Trust report in 2025?
The Powell-Cotton Trust reported total income of £19.32m and reported expenditure of £1.29m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Powell-Cotton Trust?
The Powell-Cotton Trust has a program ratio of 6.5%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 4% of UK Heritage charities with income over £10M (sample of 54 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Powell-Cotton Trust registered as a charity?
The Powell-Cotton Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 24 May 2016 as charity number 1167318. It has been registered for 10 years.
Who runs The Powell-Cotton Trust?
The Powell-Cotton Trust is governed by a board of 8 trustees. The chair of trustees is Dr Ceri Zaria Ashley. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Powell-Cotton Trust operate?
The Powell-Cotton Trust operates in Kent, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is The Powell-Cotton Trust a registered charity?
Yes — The Powell-Cotton Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1167318.
Details
Quex Park
BIRCHINGTON
Kent
CT7 0BH
Registry Information
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Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 1 other charity
Also Known As
- The Powell-Cotton Museum
- Quex Park
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated