Tens of thousands of National Trust members have quit their memberships as it faces competition from an ‘anti-woke’ rival whose numbers are soaring.
It lost a staggering 89,000 members last year, while Historic Houses has 85,000 and has been increasing by 10,000 year-on-year.
Historic Houses was founded in 1973 as an independent association and is a not-for-profit.
Members have access to 303 locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with more historic homes than both the National Trust and English Heritage combined.
Its £68 annual membership is significantly cheaper than its rivals at £96, who increased its prices this year by nearly six per cent.
Ben Cowell, director general of Historic Houses, said: ‘We don’t own any of these properties so we’ve got absolutely no remit to instruct owners on what to do, and nor do we want to.
‘The whole point is that these places are independent. They are their own masters and can be run in whichever way they want and they can display things how they wish.
‘It it is our job to aid and advise them, but it is very much the owners’ choice about what to do with their houses.’
Tens of thousands of National Trust members have quit their memberships as they face competition from an ‘anti-woke’ rival whose numbers are soaring. Above, Burghley House, Peterborough (Historic Houses)
It lost a staggering 89,000 members last year, while Historic Houses has 85,000 and has been increasing by 10,000 year-on-year. Pictured, Harewood, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Historic Houses)
Members of Historic Houses can visit Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland (pictured)
The National Trust’s decline is said to be as a result of its ‘woke ‘ culture and so lovers of stately homes are favouring the less political alternative.
Coughton Court, a Grade I-listed building in Warickshire, owned by the National Trust
He added to the Telegraph: ‘I don’t see it as a competition…People obviously have their own opinions about the National Trust, but we work really closely with them and they do an amazing job.
‘Historic Houses offers a range of experiences and places that people possibly don’t even know about, and they can suddenly go and visit them.’
But the National Trust’s decline is said to be as a result of its ‘woke’ culture and so lovers of stately homes are favouring the less political alternative.
It comes after a long history of woke rows involving the charity.
Just last month, members were ‘appalled’ by the decision to hand back the running of a Tudor mansion to its previous owners after a £3.3million restoration was carried out.
It had been owned by the charity since 1946 before the Throckmorton family had requested to take back the running of Coughton Court in Alcester, Warwickshire, from February 2026.
But the announcement sparked a furious backlash from members who have been told they would then no longer be able to visit the country estate for free.
Customers also complained when in 2023 its calendar excluded Christmas and Easter, while including other religions’ festivals.
Historic Houses was founded in 1973 as an independent association and is a not-for-profit. Above, Alnwick Castle is England’s second largest inhabited castle. Home of the Percy’s, Earls, Dukes of Northumberland since 1309
Members have access to 303 locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland , with more historic homes than both the National Trust and English Heritage combined. Pictured, the entrance across the moat into the Bishops palace and gardens in Wells, Somerset
The National Trust’s chairman even blasted the organisation’s ‘woke’ direction in 2022 when he vowed to not get embroiled in political rows. Above, Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire, notable for its wonky angles and chequerboard patterns (National Trust)
The ‘inclusivity and wellbeing’ calendar, which was been provided for volunteers, includes Hinduism’s Diwali, and Islam’s Eid and Ramadan – with no sign of Christian holidays.
The National Trust’s chairman even blasted the organisation’s ‘woke’ direction and vowed to not get embroiled in political rows.
René Olivieri, who took over as chairman in 2022, said at the time, ‘while we are entitled to raise questions about the history of the Trust’s 200 plus buildings, ‘new views’ cannot ‘eclipse’ other perspectives.
It followed the Trust’s embroilment in controversy in 2020 when accusations from rebel members said it was ‘trampling on our history’ by publishing a report into the colonialist history of its houses that was ‘littered with inaccuracies’.
The charity was in a battle with splinter group Restore Trust, whose members were enraged by the way some of its properties had been ‘blacklisted’ over alleged links to colonialism and slavery.
The homes of Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling are among almost 100 National Trust properties which the charity called out to have links to slavery and colonialism.
Members had threatened to cancel subscriptions and boycott the charity, as the organisation was accused of ‘playing the woke tune’.
While last year, it made their scones go vegan with vegetable-based spread instead of butter, to the distaste of many customers.
Customers also complained when in 2023 its calendar excluded Christmas and Easter, while including other religions’ festivals. Above, A la Ronde – a 16-sided cottage in Devon – was built in 1796 for two spinster cousins (National Trust)
The homes of Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling are among almost 100 National Trust properties which the charity called out to have links to slavery and colonialism. Pictured, Willow Road contains esteemed designer’s Goldfinger’s collection of modern art
Architect Erno Goldfinger, left, earned the wrath of Ian Fleming over the demolition of cottages, prompting the Bond writer to name villain Auric, (pictured, right, Gert Fröbe portrays the villain) after the designer
They accused the Trust, which has 280 cafes, of failing to protect a piece of British heritage and said the plant-based scones taste like ‘dry biscuits’.
However, the National Trust still remains one of the largest landowners in the UK, with more than 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves and celebrated 130 years in January.
It was set up by three Victorians in 1895 who were concerned by the rapid rate of industrialization and so formed the organisation to protect England’s historic buildings and natural beauty spots.
National Trust property is one once inhabited by an eccentric royal or prominent statesman with a taste for rare artwork and lavish drapes.
But not every one is like this – from a 16-sided feminist cottage to the home of esteemed designer Goldfinger.
The National Trust said: ‘Rising inflation, higher costs and a large drop in household discretionary spend meant that people found it harder to commit to annual subscriptions or memberships in 2023/24.
‘As a result, paying visitors to places in the Trust’s care increased by 12 per cent year on year, an increase of 332,000 in numbers. Our total visitors rose by 5 per cent – to 25.3 million – that financial year.’
Historic Houses were approached for comment.
