Cornwall Heritage Trust Bench Dedication Plaques Policy
Introduction
In 2024 the Trust installed 32 benches at five of its historic sites as resting places to make the properties more accessible.
Benches were installed at the following sites:
- Caer Bran (8 benches)
- Sancreed Beacon (12)
- Trethevy Quoit (4)
- Duloe Stone Circle (4)
- Castle an Dinas (St Columb) (4)
In addition to this, East Pentire Headland also has a large number of benches that were installed under the previous ownership of Cornwall Council (for more information about existing benches at this site please see the bottom of this page).
Cornwall Heritage Trust (CHT or “The Trust”) owns or manages 20 historic sites throughout Cornwall and, at their discretion, may, from time to time, choose to install benches at sites other than those listed above; at which point they may be available for dedication or sponsorship.
This policy only applies to land owned by Cornwall Heritage Trust.
There is no statutory responsibility to provide benches at the historic sites, however, they are a way of making the historic landscapes more accessible and enhancing the visitor experience.
The Trust recognises that people like to remember their loved ones and celebrate their lives or mark special occasions in places that were special to them, such as the historic sites it looks after. For this reason, a decision was made to offer the opportunity to place memorial plaques on the benches and to create a scheme to sponsor additional new benches.
This policy sets out the principles and process for managing the bench dedications and sponsorship scheme.
Objectives of this Policy
This policy will:
- Clearly explain the options available to the general public for bench dedication and sponsorship schemes
- Explain the application process
- Define the type and style of benches erected at the sites
- Explain responsibility for maintenance, repair and replacement
- Set out the terms and conditions of the scheme
- Provide a framework by which the scheme will be managed
Options
There are three options available to someone wishing to install a dedication on a bench:
- Sponsor a bench – this would only contain one plaque and is subject to need at the site
- Sponsor an existing bench – again, this would only contain one plaque
- Dedicate a plaque on an existing bench.The duration of the dedication is limited to the ten-year period from initial installation of the bench. This means that all dedications on that bench are reviewed on the same date. This period may be extended at the discretion of CHT
Applications
Applicants should read this policy before submitting an application.
All applications for bench dedications or sponsorships must be made using the application form which can be accessed via the CHT website (insert link) or on request from the CHT office.
The Trust may operate a waiting list system should demand exceed the available positions for plaques or the spaces for new benches.
It is not possible to reserve a spot ahead of the loss of a loved one. All applications will be dealt with as received.
Should the requested location not be available an alternative will be offered wherever possible.
Contact details of the applicant and sponsor will be retained in line with CHT the Data Protection policy and within GDPR guidelines.
Please note that requests for plaques commemorating pets will not be agreed.
The Trust reserves the right to refuse any applications. There will be no right of appeal.
The CHT team will consider applications and communicate a decision and the next steps within one month of receipt.
Fees
Costs of each option are reviewed annually and may be viewed here https://www.cornwallheritagetrust.org/support-us/bench-dedications/
If choosing to sponsor a bench the fee will cover the cost of acquiring a new bench, erection at the site, production and installation of the dedication plaque and maintenance for the ten years of the agreement.
The fees for the dedication plaques are intended to cover manufacture and installation of the plaque as well as maintenance of the bench for the remaining term of the agreement.
Bench dedications are a way of raising funds for the charity to enable it to manage the historic sites in its care and fulfil its charitable objectives.
The appropriate fee must be paid in full before the application will be processed.
Location of Benches
The location of all benches will be:
- Decided by the Trust
- Based on need and availability
- Subject to an assessment of the potential impact on the setting of the historic sites and monuments as well as the ecology of the land
- Dependent on permissions granted by statutory bodies which may include, but is not limited to, scheduled monument consent and SSSI consent
- With consideration for the maintenance needs of the site
- Sited with consideration for accessibility and the needs of visitors
The method of installation will be decided by CHT
Location of Plaques
The locations of dedication plaques will be:
- Agreed with the applicant before the plaque is manufactured and installed
- Siting on the benches will be decided by the Trust, all preferences and requests will be taken into consideration and every effort made to meet them
- It is intended that each bench will contain at least two plaques. The exact number will be at the discretion of CHT. It is possible to sponsor a bench to enable only one plaque to be placed on it – please ask for more details
Design of Benches and Plaques
The Trust wishes to ensure that all benches and dedication plaques follow a common appearance, style and size.
Benches
- The design of all benches installed on Trust land will be defined by CHT
- The design will be informed by recommendations for ease of accessibility; the benches are first and foremost resting places for visitors
- Materials used to manufacture the benches will be specified by CHT. Wherever possible this will be either natural, such as oak, or recycled materials.
- The materials chosen will be based on the needs of the site and will consider whether it is coastal or exposed, for example.
Dedication Plaques
- The design of all dedication plaques is the responsibility of CHT
- Each plaque will be 15cm wide by 6cm high and made from bronze metal
- The plaques have space for a total of 120 characters (including spaces) and these will be arranged over four lines as shown in the illustration below (not to scale)
- The plaque will be attached to the back rest of the bench on either the left or right of the CHT logo
Indicative plaque design
Line 1 – Max 40 characters (including spaces)
Line 2 – Max 22 characters (including spaces)
Line 3 – Max 22 characters (including spaces)
Line 4 – Max 36 characters (including spaces)
Indicative layout of plaques on back-rest
Inscriptions on Plaques
- Will be in accordance with the guidelines stated above
- Will not contain words considered to be offensive or inappropriate
- Must be approved by CHT, the Trust reserves the right to decline an application on this basis
Maintenance of Benches
Will be undertaken according to manufacturer’s guidelines and will be carried out by CHT staff or contractors only.
Maintenance will take place on a best endeavours basis given the availability of staff time and resources. Priority is always given to management of the historic sites and fulfilment of the Trust’s charitable objectives in the first instance.
CHT reserves the right to relocate benches should the original location no longer be viable.
Terms of the Agreement
Benches remain the property of Cornwall Heritage Trust at all times and may be used by any member of the public. Sponsorship of a bench or installation of a dedication does not confer any rights of ownership or priority and no changes to the benches will be authorised after installation or dedication.
It is anticipated that the benches will have a useable lifespan of at least ten years and this is, therefore, the period of the agreement. The period of ten years starts with the installation of the bench.
Should the bench or dedication plaque become unsafe or damaged beyond economic repair within the ten-year period the Trust will remove it and consider options for replacement. CHT is under no obligation to replace the bench.
CHT accepts no liability for damage to any bench from vandals or third parties.
Should the design or location be deemed to be no longer suitable for the site within the ten-year period an alternative location will be sought and agreed with the sponsor. If a suitable alternative cannot be found a refund equivalent to one tenth of the cost for every year remaining on the term will be made. This refund can only be paid to the original applicant.
Benches and dedication plaques may only be installed by CHT. Any unauthorised benches or plaques installed by a third party at a site belonging to CHT will be removed immediately with no liability for the return of the unauthorised item and no recompense to the installer.
Additional memorials of any type will not be permitted. Examples of these could include flowers, wreaths or ornaments. Should these be found at a CHT site they will be removed and destroyed with no liability for recompense and no reference to the original applicant or sponsor. The benches should be accessible at all times as they are first and foremost resting places.
Unauthorised planting of trees, shrubs or flowers is not permitted and they will be removed without any liability to CHT.
CHT has a policy regarding the spreading of ashes, should this be something you are interested in doing please contact the Trust by email on info@cornwallheritagetrust.or or by phone on 01209 707008. Please do not go ahead without permission, consideration of other visitors to the site and the fragile ecological balance of the historic sites is paramount.
The end of the Agreement
At the end of the term of the agreement CHT will make reasonable endeavours to contact the original applicant to discuss options.
For sponsored benches
- If the bench is still in good and useable condition the existing sponsor will be given priority for a further term with an additional cost
- Sponsors may choose to have their plaque removed and returned to them if they do not wish to extend the period of their sponsorship
- If they do not wish to extend their sponsorship the bench may be offered to another sponsor or made available for plaque dedications
- Sponsors should ensure that CHT has up to date contact details so that options can be easily discussed in plenty of time
For plaque dedications
- If the bench is still in good and useable condition the Trust will contact the original applicant of any dedication plaque(s) installed on it and the opportunity for a new agreement offered at an additional cost
- Wherever possible existing dedications will be given priority for a further term
- If they do not wish to extend the period of their agreement the plaque will be removed and returned to them
- New applicants will then be given the opportunity to install a dedication plaque on the existing bench.
Should it not be possible to contact the sponsor or original applicant for a dedication the plaque(s) will be removed and retained for a period of one year. After three months the bench may be offered for new sponsorship or dedication at the Trust’s discretion.
Benches at East Pentire Headland
The ownership of East Pentire Headland was transferred to Cornwall Heritage Trust in 2024 by Cornwall Council. There are a number of benches located on the site and many of them include dedication plaques.
Due to data protection rules the Council was only able to provide details of the original applicants if they had gained consent from them to share their information. Some of the plaques and benches have been in situ for a number of years and may even have pre-dated Cornwall Council ownership.
Every effort will be made to identify and contact the original applicants of these benches and plaques should changes be necessary, for example if the bench is no longer deemed to be safe and must be removed.
The terms and conditions of the scheme outlined above apply to the benches and dedication plaques at East Pentire Headland and Cornwall Heritage Trust accepts no liability for historic agreements made with Cornwall Council.
