Gifts and donations
DONATING A BENCH
Benches are a vitally important part of the fabric of Fulham Palace’s historic garden. They not only provide essential places to sit and rest but also offer vital ornament to the extensive lawns and paths. Benches can also be used to celebrate a happy event such as a birth or wedding, mark a special time that people shared in the grounds, or remember loved ones who had a passion for the Palace and its ancient estate. Donating a bench is a wonderful way to demonstrate your special connection to the Palace and at the same time raise funds to support other important initiatives across the grounds.
The Belmont Tree Seat
The Belmont Tree Seat is constructed from hand-crafted, riveted ironwork and is an exact reproduction of a period bench and is designed to encircle one of the Palace’s mature trees. It is made by Lost Art - a small foundry in the north-west of England that specialises in replicating Victorian ironwork and supplies the Palace's ironwork benches. The cost of donating a Belmont Tree Seat, including a plaque, delivery, installation, maintenance and repair is £3000.
The Carron Mystery Bench
Research by Lost Art revealed the origins of the Mystery Bench. The original drawing for this design was registered at the Public Records Office on 26th of January 1885 by the Carron Company, based near Falkirk in Scotland. Sometimes referred to as ‘The Coalbrookdale of the North’, this was a huge company producing a diverse range of iron goods. Unlike Coalbrookdale, seating did not feature highly in their product range, with many of their products being for military purposes. The Carron Mystery Bench is exclusive to Lost Art and is rarely found elsewhere. The cost of donating a Carron Mystery Bench, including a plaque, delivery, installation, maintenance and repair is £1750.
The Fulham Bench
The Fulham Bench is a simple but very high-quality wooden bench constructed from sustainably-sourced Iroko hardwood The cost of donating a wooden bench depends on which of the four options you choose. The prices listed below include the cost of the bench, a plaque or hand-carved inscription, delivery, installation, maintenance and repair.
Option 1 – 1.5m Fulham Bench with standard arms - £1200
Option 2 – 1.5m Fulham Bench with scrolled arms / legs - £1250
Option 2 – 1.8m Fulham Bench with standard arms - £1260
Option 4 – 1.8m Fulham Bench with scrolled arms and legs - £1300
For details on the appearance and specification of the benches please click on the datasheet below.
Fulham Bench information (254kb pdf)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the process take?
The turnaround time for a bench donation is between twelve and sixteen weeks. Once you have decided to go forward with a bench donation, it is advisable to contact the Palace Director to arrange a site visit to discuss the type of bench you want and location opportunities.
How long does the donation last?
When you donate a bench, the Palace’s grounds maintenance staff make a commitment to look after your bench for ten years. Occasionally there may be a need to relocate a bench if frequent repairs are needed or an area is being restored, but these situations are likely to be exceptional. If relocation is required we will use our best endeavours to notify you and we will cover all costs. At the end of the ten years the bench may be relocated or removed at the discretion of the Palace staff, though again such a situation is likely to be exceptional. Your bench will be discretely but securely fixed to a concrete base to reduce the risk of theft.
Can I dedicate a bench?
You are more than welcome to dedicate your bench with a plaque or carving. However, whilst we fully understand that your donation will have strong sentimental value we encourage you to think of it more as a celebration than a memorial and that this be reflected in your choice of commemoration.
If you are interested in donating a bench to the Palace then please email the Director (director@fulhampalace.org) to arrange a site visit so that you can discuss a location and raise any further queries you may have.
DONATING A TREE
Just as benches are a vital part of the Palace’s gardens, so, of course, are trees. And whilst the estate is rich in a number of fine standards and both ancient and rare specimens, a great many trees have nevertheless been lost in recent years to both decay and wind-blow.
We have a strict policy of replanting trees on the precise location of ones that have been lost during the course of the last century. It should be noted that trees are best planted in the early-autumn when they have the greatest chance of becoming well-established. The cost of donating a tree is £795 which includes a well-established specimen from a reputable supplier, delivery, VAT, maintenance and horticultural label.
DONATING BULBS
As an alternative you may wish to donate a batch of bulbs to help us enrich the woodland understory around the Palace boundary, mark the line of the lost moat with native English bluebells or celebrate the lawns in early spring with species tulips or daffodils.
Whilst we are unable to provide a plaque for trees or bulbs we do have an elegant memorial book maintained by the Museum of Fulham Palace with entries made by an experienced calligrapher. The Palace undertakes to maintain your donation as part of its wider programme of caring for the grounds. If you are interested in donating a tree or batch of bulbs to the Palace then please email the Director to arrange a site visit so that you can discuss a location and raise any further queries you may have.