The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is delighted to announce the awarding of six new grants totalling £90,000 through the Village Catalyst Programme. The Programme is an innovative partnership between Department for Communities (DfC), Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the AHF and The NI Housing Executive (NIHE).
The awards will help charities, social enterprises, and other not-for-profit groups tackle rural poverty and social isolation in their area by enabling them to test ideas and develop sustainable new uses for a disused historic building in their village, which is either listed or in a conservation area.
Read on below to learn more about the projects that have been awarded Village Catalyst funding.
St Jude’s Church, Camlough
Camlough Heritage Society
Built in 1772 in the style of Thomas Cooley, the B2 listed St Jude’s Church is a significant yet currently unusable ruin included on the Heritage at Risk Register. Situated at a key point for the Slieve Gullion Walking Trail, the Camlough Heritage Society aims to transform this shell into an inclusive space for music and community-focused events, addressing social isolation in the area. The Project Viability Grant will support community consultation, a condition survey, and a viability report.
Rathfriland Market House
Rathfriland & District Regeneration Company
Image: The exterior of Rathfriland Market House.
Located in the heart of Rathfriland, the B1 listed Market House was constructed between 1764 and 1770. Originally serving as accommodation for linen, cloth, and yarn traders, the building played an important role in village life, housing a soup kitchen during the Potato Famine and functioning as a Petty Sessions Court until the 1950s. The Project Viability Grant will enable Rathfriland & District Regeneration Company to conduct a viability study, including community engagement and condition surveys, to explore how the building might be reused in line with Village Catalyst objectives and effectively build on the success of a previous Village Catalyst project, Chandler’s House, demonstrating the transformative potential of the programme.
Knockloughrim Windmill
Cabra Community Development Association
Images: The exterior of Knockloughrim Windmill.
Known locally as "Palmer's Folly," Knockloughrim Windmill features a distinctive onion-shaped dome. Despite its sails being destroyed in the 1890s, the building has served various community purposes over the years but has since fallen into disrepair. Cabra Community Development Association (CDCA) plans to restore the Scheduled Monument and industrial heritage site for community use, preserving its historical and cultural significance. The Project Viability Grant will enable the CDCA to explore restoration viability through community engagement, feasibility assessments, and governance planning, ensuring the windmill's future as a valuable local asset in a village which has lost key amenities in recent years.
Bell Tower and Market Yard, Aughnacloy
Aghaloo & Blackwater Community Association
Image: The exterior of the Bell Tower and Market Yard, Aughnacloy.
This Grade B2 listed building, known locally as the "Taylor House" or the Market "Bell Tower," was constructed in the late 18th century by Acheson Moore as part of the butter market. Following some changes of use, the bell tower (currently missing its bell) has been lying empty for around 25 years. Building on previous viability work, also funded through the AHF, Aghaloo & Blackwater Community Association (ABCA) now aims to develop a new mixture of use for the building. The Project Development Grant will support ABCA to finalise community stakeholder consultations, develop a detailed Outline Business Case (OBC), assess social return on investment, and create a funding plan.
Convent Hall, Rostrevor
St Bronagh’s Community Group
Image: The exterior of Convent Hall in Rostrevor.
Established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1865, Convent Hall is situated at the edge of Rostrevor Conservation Area. St Bronagh’s Community Group’s ambition is to build on previous work carried out by Kilbroney Finance Council as part of the Village Catalyst Programme and convert the Convent Hall into residential accommodation and a multi-purpose community space. The refurbished building would offer inclusive, accessible services for a diverse range of groups. St Bronagh’s Community Group, supported by NICVA, is progressing with the project, building on thorough viability work and strong links with the diocese. The Project Development Grant will help the group to develop a business plan, as well as appoint a conservation-accredited architect and a Quantity Surveyor.
47 Main Street, Clogher
Hope 4 U Foundation
Image: The exterior of 47 Main Street in Clogher.
This Grade B1 listed Georgian townhouse has been vacant for over a decade. Hope 4 U seeks to address local needs that were identified through its earlier viability work by developing the building into residential accommodation for older people who can live independently but require support. The project aims to create four units, generating income for sustainability and demand for associated services. The Project Development Grant will support the group to engage a conservation architect and consultant to develop the business plan.
For more information on Village Catalyst and other programmes open in Northern Ireland, please visit the Northern Ireland Grants Page.
