The Norman Nicholson House Project
WELCOME to the website of the Norman Nicholson House project. We're working to repair and renovate Nicholson's lifelong home in Millom and turn it into a place which will celebrate his life and work, and also make a lively contribution to the town and our community.
Change of direction for our project
We have to announce that our plans for Norman Nicholson's house have been scaled down as a result of funding difficulties.
We launched this project to buy and restore the Victorian terraced house in Millom in 2016 and we've succeeded in buying the house and repairing the exterior including a new roof, completed earlier this year. But now we have had to revise further plans after a series of funding rejections.
This means that our intention to build a three-storey extension at the rear of the building has been abandoned and instead we will focus on refurbishing the house as it currently stands.
Project chair Charlie Lambert said: ‘We always knew that our aims were ambitious and make no apology for that. But we also recognise the reality of the funding landscape and it’s clear that our project as originally envisaged is asking too much. So we’re now looking to concentrate on the house within its current footprint. We will reduce the amount we’re requesting from funding organisations but retain the same objectives – to create a lively museum to celebrate Nicholson’s work, provide a focus for creativity, and a hub for community activities in Millom.
‘We will take a bit of time to consult our advisors and then look forward to moving ahead with our revised project.’
20/8/25
We launched this project to buy and restore the Victorian terraced house in Millom in 2016 and we've succeeded in buying the house and repairing the exterior including a new roof, completed earlier this year. But now we have had to revise further plans after a series of funding rejections.
This means that our intention to build a three-storey extension at the rear of the building has been abandoned and instead we will focus on refurbishing the house as it currently stands.
Project chair Charlie Lambert said: ‘We always knew that our aims were ambitious and make no apology for that. But we also recognise the reality of the funding landscape and it’s clear that our project as originally envisaged is asking too much. So we’re now looking to concentrate on the house within its current footprint. We will reduce the amount we’re requesting from funding organisations but retain the same objectives – to create a lively museum to celebrate Nicholson’s work, provide a focus for creativity, and a hub for community activities in Millom.
‘We will take a bit of time to consult our advisors and then look forward to moving ahead with our revised project.’
20/8/25
Generous donation to our project
Many thanks to the Nicholson aficionado from Carlisle who has just donated £500 to our project. This is a really generous gesture and gives our team great encouragement. On a similar theme, our online crowdfunder which we ran a couple of years ago is still active so anyone wishing to make a contribution to the project to protect and promote Norman's house is more than welcome to do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/breathe-new-life-into-norman-nicholsons-house
1/8/25
1/8/25
More media coverage for our project
Repairs to exterior completed on schedule
New look to No 14. Photo: SUE DAWSON
Repairs to the exterior of Norman Nicholson House have been completed on schedule – and a new look to the 140-year-old building has been revealed. Our £99,000 project to carry out vital repairs to the exterior included installing a new slate roof, strengthening the chimney stack and dormer, replacing the windows, drainpipes and gutters, and returning the lay-out of the front of the building to its original design. We’re extremely grateful to South Copeland GDF Community Partnership and Cumberland Council/UK Shared Prosperity Fund for providing the funding to carry out the work.
more details and photos on our NEWS page.
8/4/2025
more details and photos on our NEWS page.
8/4/2025
'A fantastic local asset' says MP Michelle Scrogham
Barrow-in-Furness MP Michelle Scrogham has given her full backing to our project, describing Norman Nicholson House as 'a fantastic local asset'. Michelle's constituency, newly created at the 2024 General Election, includes Millom. She said: 'This is an important project which will bring benefits for our region, helping to attract people to the town to find out more about Norman Nicholson and the area that inspired him. Norman Nicholson House will also be a fantastic local asset offering a vital community space for the use of voluntary sector groups, schools and others.'
To reinforce the point, this week we've been pleased to host a visit to Millom and Nicholson House by students from the University of Cumbria - more details HERE.
Michelle, born in Ulverston where she ran the fashion shop Pure in Market Street, has first-hand knowledge of Millom having been based in the town for a spell while working in banking. She's also up to speed with the literary world, as one of the organisers of the annual Ulverston Dickensian Festival.
It's very good news for us that our MP is so enthusiastic about the project. She's the latest significant person to put their support on the record, joining many more including fellow politicians Baroness Sue Hayman and former Copeland MP Trudy Harrison, broadcasters Melvyn Bragg, Eric Robson and Stuart Maconie, director of Wordsworth Grasmere Michael McGregor, director of the Brantwood Trust Howard Hull, and 'Morse' and 'Lewis' actor Kevin Whately.
25/3/25
To reinforce the point, this week we've been pleased to host a visit to Millom and Nicholson House by students from the University of Cumbria - more details HERE.
Michelle, born in Ulverston where she ran the fashion shop Pure in Market Street, has first-hand knowledge of Millom having been based in the town for a spell while working in banking. She's also up to speed with the literary world, as one of the organisers of the annual Ulverston Dickensian Festival.
It's very good news for us that our MP is so enthusiastic about the project. She's the latest significant person to put their support on the record, joining many more including fellow politicians Baroness Sue Hayman and former Copeland MP Trudy Harrison, broadcasters Melvyn Bragg, Eric Robson and Stuart Maconie, director of Wordsworth Grasmere Michael McGregor, director of the Brantwood Trust Howard Hull, and 'Morse' and 'Lewis' actor Kevin Whately.
25/3/25
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PHOTO CREDITS: Sue Dawson, Charlie Lambert, Dorothy Lambert, John Troll, Raymond Troll, Brian Whalley, plus copyright-free images from www.unsplash.com |
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