One of Lisburn’s most loved buildings, Hilden School, today (Wednesday 17th September) has been officially reopened by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council following a £2 million restoration project in partnership with the Resurgam Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Originally opened in 1912 to serve the children of Hilden Mill workers, the school closed in 2008. The B1-listed site has now been sensitively restored to provide high-quality childcare services through Little Weavers Daycare. The Tea Room at Hilden Mill also forms part of the refurbishment and will open to the public on Monday 22nd September. Collectively both businesses will employ 20 staff.
A permanent heritage exhibition celebrating the history of the Hilden area is also included within the building.
The £2m project was delivered by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, in partnership with the Resurgam Trust. Funding included contributions of £878,446 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Resurgam Trust secured an additional £180,000 from the Community Ownership Fund, and £30,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation towards the fit-out of both new Social Enterprises. In addition, the Resurgam Trust has made a financial contribution of £60,000 towards start-up and running costs.
Councillor Tim Mitchell, Chair of the Council’s Communities & Wellbeing Committee, unveiled a commemorative plaque and noted Hilden School historians Margaret Hanthorne and Ann Ferguson, both former pupils and co-authors of Hilden: The Story of a School and its Community.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Tim Mitchell said: “The reopening of Hilden School represents a proud moment for the local community and for the Council. This building is steeped in history and local memory, and its restoration is a powerful example of how we can preserve the past while creating opportunity for the future. Whether through childcare, heritage, or community enterprise, this space will once again serve the people of Hilden — as it was always intended.
“The Council is delighted to be working in partnership with the Resurgam Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore this important community asset, breathing new life into a cherished landmark for generations to come.”
Dr Sally Montgomery, Northern Ireland Committee Member for The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “Investing in heritage means investing in the community it belongs to, which is why, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we’ve supported Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and their partners The Resurgam Trust to preserve and repurpose one of the few surviving mill schools in Northern Ireland.
“In creating a new and welcoming heritage destination, the project is also sharing the industrial and social heritage stories of the former thread mill and Hilden School. It’s wonderful that this community space is now providing much needed childcare places in a beautiful setting and providing employment opportunities across the two social enterprises. The Tea Room will also be a gathering place for the local community and users of the nearby Lagan Tow Path.”
Adrian Bird, Director of the Resurgam Trust said: “The refurbishment and reconfiguration of the Hilden School is a fantastic achievement for the local community. Since the closure of the school in 2008 the Hilden Community Association and Resurgam have worked tirelessly to ensure that this valuable historic asset was brought back into community use. I am delighted with the outcome which demonstrates what can be achieved when like-minded and determined people come together with a common cause.”
To mark the reopening, the Resurgam Trust is hosting two community open days — taking place in the afternoon of Friday 19th September and Saturday 20th September, 11am-2pm allowing residents and visitors to explore the restored building, learn more about its history, and enjoy light refreshments in the Tea Room.
The facility will be further enhanced through a partnership with Lisburn Museum, which has developed an exhibition and will deliver an annual programme of cultural and heritage events and train local heritage volunteers. The museum’s Hilden School community engagement programme began six years ago with many local people participating in the development of what can be seen here today.