The house was originally home to the Newall family between 1775 and 1900, it then served as the Town Hall for Littleborough Urban District Council. In 1974 it passed to Rochdale Council and served as the Neighbourhood Office for the Pennines Township until 2010.
In 2008 Rochdale council announced proposals to relocate all services from Hare Hill House and Library. The Trust asked the Council what they proposed to do with the vacant buildings, fearing that they would be left empty and subsequently demolished, impacting negatively on our much-loved Hare Hill Park. With no proposals for the property, the Council agreed that the Trust could explore possible uses for the building.
Working with the GMCVO Community Anchors Team the Trust commissioned a structural survey and conservation assessment. Two options were developed for the building: (i) a Community Business and Conference Centre and (ii) an Environmental Education and Outward-Bound Centre. Following further consultation an initial feasibility study was commissioned demonstrating that the Community Business and Conference Centre could be developed and generate sufficient income to become sustainable in the long term. In 2010 with funding from Social Investment Business a detailed feasibility study together with architectural plans and costings and an outline Business Plan were prepared for submission to Community Builders.
In 2011 the Council’s plans to relocate all the services were revised and following a successful community campaign, the library service was to be remain in its existing premises. The Trust re-visited its proposals and developed an outline business plan and proposals to save Hare Hill House, creating a Community Arts and Enterprise Centre. In 2012 the Council considered and accepted the proposal and agreed to grant the Trust a License to Occupy the building, neither party wanting to enter a Lease until further work had been undertaken. The Trust wanted to test its ideas, establish if the community would support and volunteer to help deliver the project and establish the potential demand for the space being created. The Council wanted to see further evidence that the Business Plan was sustainable and that there would be no ongoing request for Council funding.
In November 2013 the Council handed over the keys and the Trust took responsibility for the building. The first workday on Saturday 30th November attracted 31 residents willing to get involved in transforming the building. We began the clearing, cleaning of the building, and prepared plans for more workdays, to establish a management committee and generate funding to purchase materials, tools and equipment.
We held our first Community Open Day in February 2014 which attracted a wide range of people, many of whom had stories to tell about the House. Les and Frank Haywood told us about living in the House as children of the Caretaker, former Council officers told of encounters with ghosts, whilst many visited simply to find out what was beyond the foyer and what was being proposed.
The Hare Hill House Forum was established to manage the overall project, eventually becoming the Friends of Hare hill House in 2015. Led by Nick Andrews (the Project Champion for the Trust) funding was sought from a variety of sources. Following an unsuccessful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund a 5 year programme to refurbish the building was developed and with small financial contributions from Crook Hill Community Wind Farm, Pennines Township, David Wilson Homes, Bardsley, Littleborough Coop, Littleborough Prosecution Society plus assistance from local companies including Smart Electrical, West Littleborough Carpets; Littleborough Carpets, Stewart Greenwood Plant Hire; SPC Fabrications, together with the support of the local community our volunteers, the Hare Hill Heroes, the house is being refurbished and many of its original features are being uncovered. Parts of the House have been brought back into use with several rooms now being used by a variety of local Community groups whilst 8 rooms are let out as office and studio spaces to local businesses and artists.
There remains much work yet to be undertaken, the property needs re-roofing, windows need replacing. A café and additional toilets are to be created on the ground floor and a lift installed to provide improved access to the community rooms on the first floor.
