The idea
This appeal is to fund our work on promoting the historical heritage of the Hall to the community, through a Heritage Walk, book, exhibitions and electronic resources.
We are working to secure Hough End Hall for the benefit of the local community now and for future generations. Our vision is build a local community hub, creating a vibrant and welcoming space for a wide range of people to meet, mix, work and play.
We might not get the Hall on our first attempt but we are laying the groundwork for its future role as a community and heritage resource where a wide variety of people can meet, mix, work and play. and working with the local community on the establishing and mapping the need for the kind of space we envisage.
What we'll deliver
- Publish an illustrated book about the Hall.
- Develop a mobile exhibition all about the Hall, its history and its role in our community project.
- Develop electronic supports for these materials: ebook, mobile app for the walk and virtual exhibition.
- Devise a signed Heritage Walk in the local area telling the story of the Hall, the estate, community and industry.
Why it's a great idea
This call is part of our campaign to bring Hough End Hall into use as a community and heritage resource. But it doesn't depend on getting the Hall on our first attempt. The heritage resources it funds will be free standing, while keeping alive and building support for our vision of the Hall as a resource for the people of Chorlton and South Manchester.
The campaign combines two things
A lack of accessible and affordable space for community meetings, exhibitions, rehearsal and social events & for small, community-orientated enterprises, particularly start-ups.
An empty Hough End Hall which has had an unfortunate history since a 1960s restoration when it was hemmed in by modern office blocks.
This appeal will bring the Hall back into the awareness of people in South Manchester and beyond through the materials we develop, and if everything goes well, it will be part of the foundation for an exciting project in the heart of our community, looking forward while celebrating our history.
Steps to get it done
- Continue to work on acquiring the Hall, connecting the Hall with the freestanding heritage elements
- The book will be available in both electronic and print versions.
- The Heritage Walk will have interpretation boards, signage, map, web page and mobile app. to guide people.
- Develop a Heritage Walk through Chorlton, explaining the evolution of the Hall and manorial estate, up to today.
- Develop our website further so the above all have a virtual form, browsable from any computer or internet-enabled device
- Establish a mobile exhibition about the history of the Hall and our project to reclaim it for the community.
- Write and publish a book: “Hough End Hall: The Story” by local historian Andrew Simpson and artist Peter Topping.
Our ethos is to encourage as many people as possible form all walks of life to participate in the activities and the future of the Hall; to help build a sustainable community in Chorlton and the surrounding areas of south Manchester through the shared ownership and use of HEH, and to reduce the environmental impact of the building through working to install energy saving features, and by encouraging users of the building to reuse and recycle, and use the excellent public transport routes whenever possible.
This crowd-funding call is not dependent on our successful purchase of the Hall. It will pay for those things that we could still do if we were not successful, building a groundswell of support for a potential future opportunity to obtain the Hall. At the same time this call will contribute as match funding to our application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
There will be rewards for doners, depending on how much you pledge. Details will be posted on our website.
