Research and Publication Grants

Applications open until 1 May 2025

The Society offers grants twice every year, typically in May and October, towards research and publication of new works of architectural history. These grants are open to application from all, including non-members, but recipients of the grants must be members if not already so. The Society welcomes in particular applications from postgraduate students who are developing and preparing their first research publication, as well as early career researchers who are within five years of receiving their postgraduate degrees. The SAHGB acknowledges and thanks the late Margaret Ramsden, the late Dorothy Stroud, the late Annabel Ricketts and other donors, who have generously supported this initiative.

Please download the further particulars for your grant type here.

  • Research grants may cover the expenses incurred in visiting collections, libraries, archives or historic sites within the United Kingdom or abroad for research purposes, as well as activities in support of building surveying and preparation of drawings and photographic documentation. The grants will not cover conference attendance, maintenance at home, purchase of books or equipment nor secretarial help.

    Publication grants may cover the cost of obtaining permission to reproduce images from archives and collections, cost of graphic layout, as well as a portion of the fee required by the publisher (final contract will be needed to claim the grant).

  • Priority will be given to first-time applicants and to those resident in the United Kingdom and/or active in UK-based institutions. No one can receive more than two grants of the same type. An application form must be completed to present details of the scope, timeline and contribution to knowledge of the research and publication project, forms of output and dissemination, reasons for financial assistance, other sources of funding sought, and be accompanied by supporting reference letters. Individual awards do not normally exceed £500, but in exceptional circumstances can be up to £1,000. 

    Timescale for incurred expenses:

    A) Applications for the May deadline are for funds to be spent from July of that year and applications for the October deadline are for funds to be spent from December of that year.

    B) Grants are not awarded for expenses already incurred before the deadline date. 

    Timescale for claiming the grant:

    Claims for payment must be submitted within 18 months of the award of the grant. In exceptional circumstances, that deadline may be extended by written application.

    To claim the grant, a short report is required to be sent to the Honorary Secretary and the Administrator regarding the research and publication progress, accompanied by receipts of incurred expenses. You must acknowledge SAHGB in the publication and related publicity and activities (logo can be obtained from the Administrator), we would also like to invite you to share highlights of your research with our members via the newsletters and magazines, as well as to contribute to our regular events from seminars, workshops, to symposiums and conferences.

  • To apply please download and an application form and return, completed, to info@sahgb.org.ukby 1 May 2025

    Additionally, you should also ask two referees to send letters of support to the Secretary, to arrive by these dates.

The Girouard Fund

In 2023 the Society of Architectural Historians established The Girouard Fund to support research and publications in architectural history. The Fund was created in memory of the prolific architectural historian, author, and campaigner Mark Girouard (1931-2022).

Thanks to our donors past and present

As well as a generous bequest from the estate of Jonathan Vickers, the Arnold Hayward Stevenson Educational Trust Fund, and contributions from our members and English Heritage, our educational activities (and Doctoral Scholarships) have been generously supported by the Barnsbury Charitable Trust, the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, the Drake Trust, the Ernest Cook Trust, the Follett Trust, the Thriplow Charitable Trust, CHK Charities Limited, and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.