The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is very pleased to announce that it has offered a Heritage Impact Fund loan of £150,000 to the Alex Moulton Charitable Trust. This funding will support the refurbishment of historic cottages on The Hall Estate, creating essential local rental properties.
Originally built around 1610 by clothier John Hall, The Hall in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, is a Grade I-listed Jacobean mansion steeped in history and industrial heritage. Over the centuries, it has been home to various influential figures connected to Britain’s booming woollen, rubber, and automotive industries.
The last occupier of the house was Dr Alex Moulton, a well-regarded engineer and inventor who developed the rubber suspension systems used in the Mini and the iconic Moulton bicycle. Following his death in 2012, Moulton gifted The Hall to the Alex Moulton Charitable Trust, which continues to preserve and maintain the building and its historic collections today, showcasing engineering and design, and promoting the estate as a venue for tours, weddings and unique heritage stays.
Images: People looking at historic collections inside The Hall (left) and a display of a classic Moulton bicycle (right).
The AHF first supported the Alex Moulton Charitable Trust back in 2017, awarding a Project Viability Grant towards the preparation of a project viability report for The Hall Estate. Now, a new AHF loan to the Trust will cover the full cost of works to carry out the refurbishment of three historic cottages.
Located at the main entrance to the estate, the cottages, one of which is divided into two apartments, are believed to date back to the mid-19th century. Historically used as housing for estate workers, the Trust will bring the buildings back into residential use. Each unit requires new flooring, a new kitchen and bathroom, fire safety improvements, electrical upgrades and rewiring, as well as upgrades to the boilers and radiators, and repairs to windows, doors, and other fixtures. Once the renovation is complete, these cottages will generate sustainable income to fund the Trust's charitable activities and future cultural and community engagement programmes, while also supporting its continued mission of preserving The Hall.
Images: The exterior of the historic cottages at the entrance of The Hall Estate.
The Heritage Impact Fund loan to the Alex Moulton Charitable Trust has been made possible thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.
The Architectural Heritage Fund offers a range of funding options, including grants and tailored loan finance, with competitive terms, to support not-for-profit organisations working on or based in historic buildings across the UK. Our funding helps organisations bring heritage buildings back into sustainable use, supporting regeneration, community benefit and long-term resilience. To find out how we can support your project, submit an enquiry today.
