One of the Lace Market’s most historic buildings is set to be brought back to life thanks to National Lottery funding.
The People’s Hall on Heathcoat Street has received nearly £250,000 of support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, enabling the Nottingham Historic Building Trust (NHBT) to reimagine the Grade II* listed building as a community-powered space.
The 275-year-old three-storey building will now be brought back to life through a two-year programme of activity led by local volunteers, heritage experts and the multidisciplinary board of trustees at NHBT.
Ahead of the refurbishment, NHBT is hosting a series of free open days starting this weekend (Saturday 13 September) where visitors can see the building in its current state, hear more about its storied history and access the caves beneath the building.
The building is synonymous with Nottingham’s School of Art and Design – from which the city’s universities can trace a common lineage – and was renamed The People’s Hall in 1854, when it was reimagined as a space for working people to learn, socialise and connect by renowned Victorian philanthropist George Gill.
Work has already begun at the building, with volunteers taking on tasks including removing old carpets and clearing debris, with the initial goal of making the space clean, safe and welcoming for small-scale public events.
The project is spearheaded by NHBT, which rescues some of Nottingham’s at-risk heritage buildings with the goal of putting them into positive use for the city.
Toby Ebbs, chair of NHBT and a working conservation officer, said: “Thanks to the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’ve been able to unlock the doors and begin the journey towards returning The People’s Hall to the community.
“This is about more than restoring bricks and mortar – it’s about building a more inclusive, ambitious approach to heritage, and we see this project as a launchpad for future building restoration projects.”
The initial stage will see the building initially opened for community-led programming, consultations and heritage storytelling while longer-term restoration plans are developed. NHBT is now looking to engage underrepresented communities in the effort and recruit a diverse base of volunteers to ensure the project is built by and for the people of Nottingham.
Polly Schomberg, who is part of the initial group of volunteers supporting the project, said: “There’s something very powerful about the hands-on work of clearing out a space that’s been forgotten. You feel the ghosts of what’s gone before – and the potential of what could come next. We’re not just tidying up; we’re making it a space for the people of Nottingham to enjoy, learn about local heritage, and imagine its future together.”
The People’s Hall is owned by Nigel Kirk, who has handed the restoration of the building over to NHBT to ensure it is revitalised in keeping with the building’s long and prestigious history.
The open days take place on Saturday 13, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September from 10am to 3pm, with talks taking place at 1pm each session.
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