LAMAS Research Fund: rules and further information
What can the fund be used for?
The fund can be used to support specific projects of almost any type which relate to the core objectives of the Society as set out in our Constitution.
For archaeological projects, additionally, applicants must show that the research fits within the Research Agenda for London, and that the research is not that which should have been funded through other means, particularly through development control conditions (such as are applied through PPG16), or as part of a previously agreed Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent, for example.
For historical research projects, favour will be given to those projects focused on landscapes, districts, monuments, or buildings over biographical or other approaches.
Specific educational fieldwork projects may also be supported (such as Young Archaeologist’s Club, or National Archaeology Week), where such projects directly match our Constitutional aims.
The purpose of the Fund is to help members explore the past of the London and Middlesex areas, and so inventive and exciting pieces of research delivering interesting and new information will be accorded top priority. To give potential applicants a flavour, some examples might be:
- Research and report on a class of waterfront finds from London excavations in the London Archaeological Archive and Research Facility
- Synthesis from antiquarian reports and modern published excavations of the archaeology of a district or town in the London and Middlesex area.
- Analysis and report on manorial records from a moated manor in Hillingdon borough
- Support to pay for an illustrator to prepare maps for a historical study.
- Support to help young archaeologists write up a test-pit excavated as part of National Archaeology Week.
We would expect reports of most projects supported by the Research Fund to be published in the Society’s Transactions, and the normal request for contributions to printing costs will be waived for all such publication texts.
Will the Fund support only one project each year?
No, a sub-committee made up of the Hon. Secretary, a representative from each of the four committees (Archaeology, Local History, Publications, and Historic Buildings) and a representative member of the Council (the Society’s ruling body), will weigh up the various applications received by the application date and decide on the best balance.
Are partnerships acceptable?
Very much so. The Research Fund can be used within the context of a much wider study, provided that conditions of grant are fully met within the timetable, and provided that the funded element is self-contained.
For example, the analysis of an important Roman statue fragment excavated from a site in the 19th century, and held at the Museum of London, could be combined with a developer-funded excavation report on the same site, provided Council receive the specific report on the statue within the funding year.
What is the timetable?
Applications must be received by Council by no later than 30th September each year. Decisions will be made during October, and successful applicants notified by letter on or around 1st November.
The work must be undertaken and completed within 10 months, and submitted to Council by 31st August of the following year. It will be appraised during September, and grant cheques will be issued as soon as Council is satisfied that it is of the expected form and quality.
Does this mean an applicant might wait quite a long time to be paid?
Yes. Council is composed entirely of volunteers and we have no full-time secretariat. We must therefore keep administration of the fund to a minimum — hence the strict cyclical nature of the timetable. By careful timetabling of project work, successful applicants should be able to reduce the time required to wait for funding to a minimum.
What happens if an applicant misses the deadline or submits a different report from the one envisaged?
Payments can only be made for projects that come in on time and are those which Council agreed. No exceptions can be made. Late or altered projects will not receive payment. We have to be strict about this to keep the programme manageable. Careful thought about the Project Design is therefore essential.
Do successful applicants have any other responsibilities?
Yes. It is up to applicants to declare income from the fund to the Inland Revenue or any other authorities to whom they are bound to disclose income. Following submission and payment, it remains the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that any editorial changes requested by the Transactions editor are fully and promptly addressed. Finally, it is up to applicants to obtain all relevant copyright permissions for publication. Grants can be used to cover reproduction fees, but only if they were included in the original Project Design.
Barney Sloane
LAMAS Research Fund Co-ordinator