Exterior repairs completed: new look revealed!
January 29th. Photo: CHARLIE LAMBERT
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April 7th. Photo: SUE DAWSON
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We've hit another of our important targets - repairs to the exterior of Norman Nicholson House have been completed on schedule.
Following our purchase of the property last year we've now achieved the vital task of repairing all the faults which have accrued over many years, including a new slate roof, strengthening the chimney stack and dormer, replacing the windows, drainpipes and gutters, removing mouldy render, repairing original brickwork, and cleaning up the sandstone plinth which runs along the base of the frontage at street level.
In the process we've returned the lay-out of the front of the building to its original design, with windows and front door now in their original orientation.
This was a £99,000 project and 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. We're also grateful to our team of professionals who made it happen - Joe Nuttall and his team from J. Nuttall Building Services of Millom; Mike Darwell and Sarah Gerrish from John Coward Architects of Cartmel; and Ed Bushell from Fairfield Cost Consultants of Kendal.
Following our purchase of the property last year we've now achieved the vital task of repairing all the faults which have accrued over many years, including a new slate roof, strengthening the chimney stack and dormer, replacing the windows, drainpipes and gutters, removing mouldy render, repairing original brickwork, and cleaning up the sandstone plinth which runs along the base of the frontage at street level.
In the process we've returned the lay-out of the front of the building to its original design, with windows and front door now in their original orientation.
This was a £99,000 project and 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. We're also grateful to our team of professionals who made it happen - Joe Nuttall and his team from J. Nuttall Building Services of Millom; Mike Darwell and Sarah Gerrish from John Coward Architects of Cartmel; and Ed Bushell from Fairfield Cost Consultants of Kendal.
Our team before work began: (from left) Sarah Gerrish, Mike Darwell, Joe Nuttall, Ed Bushell.
The house was suffering badly from damp, missing slates and damaged timber and brickwork. Now it looks in great condition, boasting a brand-new appearance with the woodwork painted an eye-catching shade of pink as a nod to Millom’s past as the site of one of the world’s richest seams of haematite, something frequently referenced in Nicholson’s poetry.
Chair of the Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘This is a massive step on the way towards fully reopening the house as a café, a place for small-scale community events, a Nicholson exhibition, and accommodation for a writer in residence and general tourists. Our aims are to celebrate Norman Nicholson’s outstanding writing and to make a genuine contribution to Millom and the surrounding area'.
Now that the building is secure and weatherproof we'll seek further funding to renovate the interior, build an extension at the back, and fully equip the house for its future role.
8/4/2025
Chair of the Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘This is a massive step on the way towards fully reopening the house as a café, a place for small-scale community events, a Nicholson exhibition, and accommodation for a writer in residence and general tourists. Our aims are to celebrate Norman Nicholson’s outstanding writing and to make a genuine contribution to Millom and the surrounding area'.
Now that the building is secure and weatherproof we'll seek further funding to renovate the interior, build an extension at the back, and fully equip the house for its future role.
8/4/2025
Successful visit by Uni students
We enjoyed a very successful day on Tuesday (March 25th) hosting students from the University of Cumbria who visited Millom as part of their course, led by Dr Penny Bradshaw who is also a director of the Nicholson House project. The weather was glorious which helped the students to see the surrounding countryside in its best light. The cloud even stayed on Black Combe while they listened to an audio recording of Nicholson reading his poem Cloud on Black Combe while in the churchyard.
Our builder Joe Nuttall and his team were very accommodating in enabling us to visit the house with work in progress. The group was very complimentary about the craftsmanship which has gone into the restoration and repair of many of the details. Taking full advantage of the glorious weather we visited Hodbarrow in the afternoon where one member of the group, bearing a striking likeness to Dr Bradshaw, was seen having a paddle in the sea! We finished with a group reading of Nicholson's poem Sea to the West, with the dazzle of the sea providing an appropriate background. It was a really good day.
28/3/2025
Our builder Joe Nuttall and his team were very accommodating in enabling us to visit the house with work in progress. The group was very complimentary about the craftsmanship which has gone into the restoration and repair of many of the details. Taking full advantage of the glorious weather we visited Hodbarrow in the afternoon where one member of the group, bearing a striking likeness to Dr Bradshaw, was seen having a paddle in the sea! We finished with a group reading of Nicholson's poem Sea to the West, with the dazzle of the sea providing an appropriate background. It was a really good day.
28/3/2025
Karen Seward joins our board
Norman Nicholson House CIC is delighted to announce the appointment of Karen Seward to our board of directors. Karen is a leading international lawyer with over 30 years’ experience, specialising in business and employment issues, leadership development, team building, and promoting diversity and inclusion. She has worked for leading legal practices in both the UK and USA and is currently a director of Seward Advisory Ltd, based in London. Karen is originally from Barrow-in-Furness and acquired a lifelong enthusiasm for Norman Nicholson’s work from her English teacher at Barrow Grammar School, Wilf Kimber. We’re looking forward to Karen’s input as we continue our progress of renovating Nicholson’s old house in Millom and turning it into a real community asset.
24/2/2025
24/2/2025
Border TV report on our progress
ITV Border reported on the start of building work at the house in their news programme this evening. The feature included interviews with President of the Norman Nicholson Society Melvyn Bragg, our project chair Charlie Lambert, and member of our board Janice Brockbank. The video is available till 6pm tomorrow (Feb 5th) and starts at 19 mins 45 secs along the timeline HERE..
4/2/2025
Update: Granada TV also reported on the project on Sunday February 16th.
4/2/2025
Update: Granada TV also reported on the project on Sunday February 16th.
Repairs are under way
photo: SUE DAWSON
Repairs to the outside of the house are now under way. This follows confirmation of grant funding from South Copeland GDF Community Partnership and Cumberland Council, approval of our planning application, and the outcome of a tendering process which resulted in a contract being signed on Wednesday January 29th with J.Nuttall Building Services of Millom. Joe Nuttall's team began taking measurements that same day and scaffolding went up 24 hours later. The work will include a new slate roof, replacement gutters and downpipes, repairs to brickwork, and more. It's likely to take two months.
We will now seek funding to carry out the rest of the work required to deliver our project.
The BBC reported the latest developments HERE and the NW Mail HERE.
31/1/2025
We will now seek funding to carry out the rest of the work required to deliver our project.
The BBC reported the latest developments HERE and the NW Mail HERE.
31/1/2025
Work on Nicholson House repairs will start on Monday!
A grant of £36,000 from Cumberland Council means much-needed repair work on the exterior of the house will start on Monday, February 3rd. The grant utilises funds from the Government’s ‘levelling up’ UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Chair of the Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘We’re so grateful to Cumberland Council and UKSPF for supporting us in this way. Their grant, along with the funds we secured last year from South Copeland GDF Community Partnership, means we can go ahead with vital work to the exterior of the house. This will include a completely new slate roof and a remodelling of the entrance to the building so that it replicates the style of the house when Nicholson’s father, Joe, ran a gents outfitters business there while his family lived above the shop’.
Following a tendering process the construction contract has been awarded to J.Nuttall Building Services of Millom. Charlie Lambert said: ‘We’re delighted to award the contract to Joe Nuttall. The Nicholson House project is about celebrating and promoting the writings of Norman Nicholson but it’s also about making a real difference to his home town, and that includes generating revenue for local businesses which we’re doing here'.
Chair of the Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘We’re so grateful to Cumberland Council and UKSPF for supporting us in this way. Their grant, along with the funds we secured last year from South Copeland GDF Community Partnership, means we can go ahead with vital work to the exterior of the house. This will include a completely new slate roof and a remodelling of the entrance to the building so that it replicates the style of the house when Nicholson’s father, Joe, ran a gents outfitters business there while his family lived above the shop’.
Following a tendering process the construction contract has been awarded to J.Nuttall Building Services of Millom. Charlie Lambert said: ‘We’re delighted to award the contract to Joe Nuttall. The Nicholson House project is about celebrating and promoting the writings of Norman Nicholson but it’s also about making a real difference to his home town, and that includes generating revenue for local businesses which we’re doing here'.
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The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
27/1/2025
27/1/2025
Planning permission granted!
A great way to start the New Year as today we've been informed that our planning application for the upcoming work at 14 St George's Terrace has been approved by Cumberland Council! This is another major step forward for our project and we thank Mike Darwell and Sarah Gerrish of our architects John Coward Architects, and the planning officers at Cumberland (and formerly Copeland) Council, for their hard work and support. It's great to know that our vision for the future of Norman's house is now officially recognised.
2/1/25
2/1/25
Our new logo: the story of the present and the past
Today we're pleased to unveil our project's new logo which combines modern thinking with a familiar image of Norman Nicholson. We're looking forward to this becoming a routine element of our communications and one with which people will readily identify.
The logo features a photograph of Norman taken by Cliff Johnson in 1977. The design is by our director Janice Brockbank who described the creative process that has gone into it:
"When I first started working on the logo for the Norman Nicholson House renovation project, I wanted to create an easily recognisable and interpreted design and convey the story of the present and the past somehow. Grand ambition and a grand but enjoyable challenge.
"I decided to use a ‘clean’ contemporary house base template, as it instantly conveyed the essence of a house project. Visually, it's simple and contemporary with a traditionally recognisable outline, which seemed like a promising start. From there, I tried to build the story to connect the house to Norman as the inspiration behind the project; it felt important to include the man himself, so what better than his image? I placed a familiar photo of Norman inside his home, and it felt as if his historic presence in a contemporary template hinted at the present and the past.
"Adding the No. 14 detail tied the house directly to Norman and is a nod to how Nicholson enthusiasts fondly refer to his home in St. George’s Terrace.
"In terms of colours, I narrowed down the options to green or red. Green represents Nicholson’s environmental interests and knowledge, while ' haematite red' symbolises Millom, the location of his home, where he lived his life, where much of his inspiration is connected, and Millom's geology and iron industry, all subjects of Nicholson’s writing.
"After presenting several logo variations to the Board of Directors, we collectively selected the final design to promote Norman Nicholson's House Restoration project and attract the attention of future funders. I enjoyed the challenge of this task and hope that the logo fulfils its purpose".
We unveil our logo at a key time in the progress of the project. Over the last eight months we've completed our purchase of the house and secured a grant of £63,741 from South Copeland GDF Community Partnership to pay for a much-needed replacement slate roof and other vital repairs to the exterior. We've submitted our planning application to Cumberland Council, we're currently putting together tender packs for building firms who are interested in the exterior repairs, and we've commissioned an asbestos survey which is taking place this very day.
Our next task is to apply for funding to repair and refurbish the interior of No 14 and add a new extension at the back. It's all progress in the right direction and we look forward to our new logo accompanying us on the journey ahead!
14/10/24, updated 1/10/24
The logo features a photograph of Norman taken by Cliff Johnson in 1977. The design is by our director Janice Brockbank who described the creative process that has gone into it:
"When I first started working on the logo for the Norman Nicholson House renovation project, I wanted to create an easily recognisable and interpreted design and convey the story of the present and the past somehow. Grand ambition and a grand but enjoyable challenge.
"I decided to use a ‘clean’ contemporary house base template, as it instantly conveyed the essence of a house project. Visually, it's simple and contemporary with a traditionally recognisable outline, which seemed like a promising start. From there, I tried to build the story to connect the house to Norman as the inspiration behind the project; it felt important to include the man himself, so what better than his image? I placed a familiar photo of Norman inside his home, and it felt as if his historic presence in a contemporary template hinted at the present and the past.
"Adding the No. 14 detail tied the house directly to Norman and is a nod to how Nicholson enthusiasts fondly refer to his home in St. George’s Terrace.
"In terms of colours, I narrowed down the options to green or red. Green represents Nicholson’s environmental interests and knowledge, while ' haematite red' symbolises Millom, the location of his home, where he lived his life, where much of his inspiration is connected, and Millom's geology and iron industry, all subjects of Nicholson’s writing.
"After presenting several logo variations to the Board of Directors, we collectively selected the final design to promote Norman Nicholson's House Restoration project and attract the attention of future funders. I enjoyed the challenge of this task and hope that the logo fulfils its purpose".
We unveil our logo at a key time in the progress of the project. Over the last eight months we've completed our purchase of the house and secured a grant of £63,741 from South Copeland GDF Community Partnership to pay for a much-needed replacement slate roof and other vital repairs to the exterior. We've submitted our planning application to Cumberland Council, we're currently putting together tender packs for building firms who are interested in the exterior repairs, and we've commissioned an asbestos survey which is taking place this very day.
Our next task is to apply for funding to repair and refurbish the interior of No 14 and add a new extension at the back. It's all progress in the right direction and we look forward to our new logo accompanying us on the journey ahead!
14/10/24, updated 1/10/24
BBC reports our planning application
Our planning application in respect of the building work that we want to carry out has been submitted to Cumberland Council and is being reported by the media.
The BBC website published an article this morning after their reporter spoke to our chair, Charlie Lambert, yesterday. The NW Mail and Whitehaven News are also across the story.
Here's hoping that we can supply more good-news stories in the coming months as the work progresses!
25/9/24
The BBC website published an article this morning after their reporter spoke to our chair, Charlie Lambert, yesterday. The NW Mail and Whitehaven News are also across the story.
Here's hoping that we can supply more good-news stories in the coming months as the work progresses!
25/9/24
Grant award featured on Radio Cumbria
Listen to our Chair, Charlie Lambert, talking to Hayley Kay on BBC Radio Cumbria about our project and our latest funding award here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jfg4qk. Interview starts at 1 hour 20 mins 45 secs along the timeline. Live broadcast on 18/8/24. Recording should be available for one month.
And here's the NW Mail's report on the great news: www.nwemail.co.uk/news/24514679.millom-home-poet-norman-nicholson-undergo-repairs/
18/8/24
And here's the NW Mail's report on the great news: www.nwemail.co.uk/news/24514679.millom-home-poet-norman-nicholson-undergo-repairs/
18/8/24
We've landed a £63,741 grant for work on Norman's house!
GREAT NEWS - our project has been awarded a grant of £63,741 by South Copeland GDF Community Partnership which will enable us to start long-awaited repair work on the house. The grant is part of the Partnership’s Community Investment Funding which supports projects which are sustainable and leave a lasting legacy in the community.
The money will enable essential repairs to the exterior of the building.
This means we can get started on the work that we want to do to make Norman’s old home a place that not only celebrates his writing but also makes a real contribution to Millom. We want to see this place buzzing with all sorts of activities being based here so that the town can be proud of it.
South Copeland GDF Community Partnership’s support is a massive boost. They understand what we want to do and they want to do something constructive to make it happen.
The work on the exterior of the building is Phase One of the overall plan. We are currently finalising requirements with our architects, John Coward Architects of Cartmel, and will shortly be inviting building firms to tender for the work.
The money will enable essential repairs to the exterior of the building.
This means we can get started on the work that we want to do to make Norman’s old home a place that not only celebrates his writing but also makes a real contribution to Millom. We want to see this place buzzing with all sorts of activities being based here so that the town can be proud of it.
South Copeland GDF Community Partnership’s support is a massive boost. They understand what we want to do and they want to do something constructive to make it happen.
The work on the exterior of the building is Phase One of the overall plan. We are currently finalising requirements with our architects, John Coward Architects of Cartmel, and will shortly be inviting building firms to tender for the work.
10/8/24
Top lawyer joins our board
We're delighted to announce that Garth Lindrup has joined our board of directors and will take up the role of company secretary. Garth brings a huge amount of significant experience to our project. He has a Master in Laws from Cambridge University and was a practicing solicitor for over 40 years, mostly with Addleshaw Goddard as solicitor, partner, and consultant. He represented both corporate and public sector clients. Between 2009 and 2016 he was based at Addleshaw’s London office, specialising in public procurement law. He acted for the Dept of Health, Ministry of Defence, NHS Trusts, and local authorities before retiring in 2016. He is past Chair of the Law Society’s European Group. Garth has previous experience as a director of a CIC, having worked with Wennet CIC, set up to provide broadband to rural communities in and around Wray and Wennington, Lancs, from 2008 to 2014. He also played a leading role in setting up Lancaster Judges Lodgings Museum, a charity established to run this museum as a community enterprise. He is currently working towards a PhD at the University of Cumbria and lives near Kendal.
10/3/24
10/3/24
Poetry and prosecco to start a new era
Shortly after 10am yesterday we received the great news from our solicitors that our purchase of 14 St George's Terrace had been completed. Later in the day four of our directors were joined by some of our most passionate supporters who live in Millom, and the Mayor, Cllr Simone Faulkner, to celebrate with a glass of fizz while listening to a recording of Nicholson reading his poem The Pot Geranium, followed by a reading from his autobiography Wednesday Early Closing in which he describes his early years in this very building:
'Our shop, like the others, had been made by knocking down the indoor wall between the lobby and the front parlour. The old vestibule door had then been set back, almost to the foot of the stairs, and immediately inside this, a door opened into the middle room which we called the dining room.' Pretty much like it remains today.
So the keys are in our hands now - and so is the future of this building. We're ready for the challenges ahead as we ramp up our efforts to acquire the funding which will give No 14 a vibrant future to complement its literary past.
1/3/24
'Our shop, like the others, had been made by knocking down the indoor wall between the lobby and the front parlour. The old vestibule door had then been set back, almost to the foot of the stairs, and immediately inside this, a door opened into the middle room which we called the dining room.' Pretty much like it remains today.
So the keys are in our hands now - and so is the future of this building. We're ready for the challenges ahead as we ramp up our efforts to acquire the funding which will give No 14 a vibrant future to complement its literary past.
1/3/24
Our purchase of No 14 will be completed on Feb 29th
see report in the NW Mail
The legal process is complete and this Thursday, February 29th 2024, we will become the owners of Nicholson's lifetime home. It's a wonderful milestone for our project, and has only be made possible by the generous support of all who contributed to our Crowdfunding campaign, the Architectural Heritage Fund, and our incredibly generous benefactor. There's still a long way to go before we achieve our aims, but we're definitely going to celebrate this moment!
Huge thanks to everyone. Read more in this report in the NW Mail: www.nwemail.co.uk/news/24144903.millom-group-finally-buys-norman-nicholsons-old-house/
27/2/24
Huge thanks to everyone. Read more in this report in the NW Mail: www.nwemail.co.uk/news/24144903.millom-group-finally-buys-norman-nicholsons-old-house/
27/2/24
Our Trails App now includes Haverigg
Our walking trails app, first launched in 2021, has now expanded to include a third trail, guiding visitors along a two-mile route around Haverigg and providing fascinating information about the village’s history and its links with Norman Nicholson.
To download the app, go to GooglePlay or the App Store, and search for ‘Norman Nicholson’s Millom’. It’s free!
The trail builds on the original app development, funded by Millom Town Board as part of an 'accelerator' project to bolster the town's case for inclusion in the Government's Levelling Up scheme, subsequently successful. The Nicholson House team was approached by the Board in 2020 when they were looking for projects that could be delivered quickly to show the Government that Millom can get things done on time and on budget. We were delighted to help with this and met all the targets in creating the app and its two original walking trails, both in Millom itself. This has now been expanded to offer a 90-minute walk around Haverigg, starting and finishing at the Inshore Rescue lifeboat station on Sea View, LA18 4GY.
Chair of the project Charlie Lambert said: ‘We’re grateful to Millom Town Deal for providing the funds for our walking trails app and we're pleased to add this third trail. As well as being a wonderful location at the mouth of the estuary, Haverigg has a fascinating history and the trail is a memorable journey in more ways than one.’
Visitors will find out about Haverigg’s links with bygone industries, how a World War Two bomb lay unexploded for years below what is now a housing estate, what happened when rioters drove the police out of the village in 1866, and exactly why an enormous statue of a dragon stares out over the Duddon Estuary.
Text and photographs show the way from one location to the next and there’s the option of audio commentary as well. Walkers can also activate a GPS triggering system which means the app will automatically tell you where you are as you reach each point on the trail.
Children from Haverigg Primary School have helped to develop the trail which takes visitors past a series of mosaics illustrating aspects of village life, originally created in a project with the school in 2015. An audio commentary includes conversations between the children and local historians explaining the significance of the images within the mosaics.
To download the app, go to GooglePlay or the App Store, and search for ‘Norman Nicholson’s Millom’. It’s free!
The trail builds on the original app development, funded by Millom Town Board as part of an 'accelerator' project to bolster the town's case for inclusion in the Government's Levelling Up scheme, subsequently successful. The Nicholson House team was approached by the Board in 2020 when they were looking for projects that could be delivered quickly to show the Government that Millom can get things done on time and on budget. We were delighted to help with this and met all the targets in creating the app and its two original walking trails, both in Millom itself. This has now been expanded to offer a 90-minute walk around Haverigg, starting and finishing at the Inshore Rescue lifeboat station on Sea View, LA18 4GY.
Chair of the project Charlie Lambert said: ‘We’re grateful to Millom Town Deal for providing the funds for our walking trails app and we're pleased to add this third trail. As well as being a wonderful location at the mouth of the estuary, Haverigg has a fascinating history and the trail is a memorable journey in more ways than one.’
Visitors will find out about Haverigg’s links with bygone industries, how a World War Two bomb lay unexploded for years below what is now a housing estate, what happened when rioters drove the police out of the village in 1866, and exactly why an enormous statue of a dragon stares out over the Duddon Estuary.
Text and photographs show the way from one location to the next and there’s the option of audio commentary as well. Walkers can also activate a GPS triggering system which means the app will automatically tell you where you are as you reach each point on the trail.
Children from Haverigg Primary School have helped to develop the trail which takes visitors past a series of mosaics illustrating aspects of village life, originally created in a project with the school in 2015. An audio commentary includes conversations between the children and local historians explaining the significance of the images within the mosaics.
Posted 5/2/24 photos by Sue Dawson, Charlie Lambert, Haverigg Inshore Rescue
A major landmark for our project!
We are now in the wonderful position of being able to go ahead and buy Norman Nicholson's house!
Thanks to an incredibly generous pledge from a Cumbrian benefactor plus the success of our online crowdfunder and match funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund we have instructed lawyers to draw up the necessary documents and we hope to have possession by Christmas. It's an exciting moment! But not the end of the road in terms of fund-raising. There's a lot to be done in terms of repairs and renovations and we will be approaching funding organisations for the relevant sums - with renewed vigour!
Thank you to everyone who has supported us in getting this far, especially all who contributed to the crowdfunder and the many organisations and individuals who have lined up to help our project reach this major landmark. Listen to our chair Charlie Lambert discussing this news with presenter Helen Millican on BBC Radio Cumbria on October 27th 2023 - click HERE.
More news as we have it!
posted 27/10/23
Thanks to an incredibly generous pledge from a Cumbrian benefactor plus the success of our online crowdfunder and match funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund we have instructed lawyers to draw up the necessary documents and we hope to have possession by Christmas. It's an exciting moment! But not the end of the road in terms of fund-raising. There's a lot to be done in terms of repairs and renovations and we will be approaching funding organisations for the relevant sums - with renewed vigour!
Thank you to everyone who has supported us in getting this far, especially all who contributed to the crowdfunder and the many organisations and individuals who have lined up to help our project reach this major landmark. Listen to our chair Charlie Lambert discussing this news with presenter Helen Millican on BBC Radio Cumbria on October 27th 2023 - click HERE.
More news as we have it!
posted 27/10/23
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The Nicholson House project's chair, Charlie Lambert, had a quick catch-up with one of our patrons, Stuart Maconie, in Liverpool on Saturday. Stuart was appearing at the Liverpool Literary Festival to answer questions about his latest book, The Full English. He has been a valued patron of our project from the start and reaffirmed his support.
9/10/23 |
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The June edition of Cumbria Life magazine includes an excellent feature about Millom, in which the editor, Sarah French, makes good use of our walking trails app to explore the town and the surrounding area. The article includes a lot of positive coverage of the Nicholson House project within the overall context of Millom's 'levelling up' process. It's also a perfect demonstration of what we what to do - create interest in Nicholson and Millom, attract people to visit to find out more, and see them go away with a positive impression and a feeling that they have taken part in a good experience.
7/6/23
7/6/23
We're delighted to welcome John Baker to our board of directors. John is CEO of the not-for-profit Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners which as well as running the harbour operates a number of other facilities including the very imaginative museum tracing the history of the rum trade The Rum Story https://www.rumstory.co.uk/. John's track record includes spells as MD of Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool and Group Operations Director for the Jockey Club. His experience in the tourism and leisure sector will be a major plus in the development and operation of Nicholson House.
12/3/23
UPDATE: Congratulations to John on his recent move to a new post as Managing Director of Windermere Marina Village, May 2023.
12/3/23
UPDATE: Congratulations to John on his recent move to a new post as Managing Director of Windermere Marina Village, May 2023.
Cumbria Magazine features the Nicholson House project in a four-page article in the March issue, and declares that 'magic is happening' behind the front door. Editor Mick Smith reports on the success of our crowdfunding campaign and describes it as 'a giant step forward' in the journey towards 'Cumbria's newest, and least expected, tourist attraction'. The article sums up our achievements so far and also seizes the opportunity to inform readers why Nicholson is still such a highly respected poet. The magazine is on sale throughout the county and can be contacted at [email protected].
6/3/23
6/3/23
Our project team has pulled off a remarkable success by raising £20,000 towards the overall cost of the scheme, hours ahead of a deadline set by the Architectural Heritage Fund to double their money.
The result of our online crowdfunder means our project will benefit to the tune of £40,000, thanks to the AHF’s pledge to match all funds raised to a maximum of £20,000 by the end of today, January 31st 2023.
Chair of the Norman Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘I can’t quite believe it but people have been incredibly generous and really got behind our crowdfunder in this last week as the AHF’s deadline closed in. It’s been humbling to see the donations coming in from a wide range of people. Whether the amount has been small or large we know that it’s a tough time for people economically and we really appreciate every single donation’.
The crowdfunder, hosted on www.GoFundMe.com, is titled ‘Breathe New Life into Norman Nicholson’s house’ and raises money towards the cost of buying and renovating the lifelong home of the Millom poet who died in 1987. Charlie said: ‘This fundraising achievement makes a massive statement and will show major funding organisations how much support we have as we approach them for the significant additional funds we need in order to realise our ambitions’.
The fund remains open for donations but they won't attract matchfunding from the AHF now.
See report by the NW Mail here
31/1/23, updated 6/2/23 & 8/3/23
The result of our online crowdfunder means our project will benefit to the tune of £40,000, thanks to the AHF’s pledge to match all funds raised to a maximum of £20,000 by the end of today, January 31st 2023.
Chair of the Norman Nicholson House project Charlie Lambert said: ‘I can’t quite believe it but people have been incredibly generous and really got behind our crowdfunder in this last week as the AHF’s deadline closed in. It’s been humbling to see the donations coming in from a wide range of people. Whether the amount has been small or large we know that it’s a tough time for people economically and we really appreciate every single donation’.
The crowdfunder, hosted on www.GoFundMe.com, is titled ‘Breathe New Life into Norman Nicholson’s house’ and raises money towards the cost of buying and renovating the lifelong home of the Millom poet who died in 1987. Charlie said: ‘This fundraising achievement makes a massive statement and will show major funding organisations how much support we have as we approach them for the significant additional funds we need in order to realise our ambitions’.
The fund remains open for donations but they won't attract matchfunding from the AHF now.
See report by the NW Mail here
31/1/23, updated 6/2/23 & 8/3/23
The Times Literary Supplement has picked up on our crowdfunding campaign in support of the Nicholson House project. This week's edition, in the 'Farmed Out' column, encourages its readers to donate and emphasises that the deadline for matchfunding from the Architectural Heritage Fund, January 31st, is rapidly approaching.
21/3/23
21/3/23
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Cumbria Arts & Culture Network features ourselves in the latest edition of their podcast series, Behind the Scenery. Producer Tom Speight has recorded a chat with our chair Charlie Lambert at the house, talking about Nicholson, the house, and plans for the coming year. Listen HERE.
17/1/23 |
We hosted a poetic party on Sunday January 8th to mark the 109th anniversary of Norman Nicholson's birth. The event, organised by the Norman Nicholson Society, featured a series of readings of Nicholson's poetry, chosen for their striking relevance to the global crises of today despite the writer having died in 1987. The party began in the living room where an online audience joined in via Zoom. This first session ended with the playing of an audio recording of Nicholson reading one of his poems, The Whisperer. The in-person group then walked the short distance to St George's Church, where Nicholson was once a regular member of the congregation, for more readings, tea, coffee, biscuits, and, of course, cake.
10/1/23
10/1/23
The Heritage Trust Network is an invaluable source of support, advice and information for projects like ours, and they put on an excellent event in Birmingham this week, attended by our chair Charlie Lambert (pictured). The HTN brought together a panel of specialists who shared their experiences with representatives of heritage projects from across the country. Discussion ranged from how exactly to define 'heritage' to ways of engaging with the local community. The event, appropriately, took place inside a heritage property, the wonderful Muslim Community Hub in Moseley Road, formerly the Birmingham Municipal School of Art, originally built in 1899. It was a very useful day and we highlight it here as an example of the work that's currently going on beneath the radar to ensure our project team is up to speed with latest developments. More about the HTN HERE and more about the Muslim Community Hub HERE.
30/11/22
30/11/22
Copeland Community Fund is backing our project by providing funding to cover the cost of two important pieces of work being undertaken at the moment. CCF's Enabling Fund has generously agreed to meet the costs of an upgrade to our architects' plans and a complete re-costing of the project, something which is necessary in view of rising prices across the board. This is worth a total of £1,718 to us and we are very grateful to the Fund, both for the financial backing and also their overall support for the Nicholson House Project. You can find out more about how the fund supports community work in the county HERE.
13/10/22
13/10/22
We were delighted to host a wonderful event organised by the Norman Nicholson Society. 'A face, a place, a root' was a display of Nicholson memorabilia held in his old home to mark the 50th anniversary of the poet's 1972 collection 'A Local Habitation' and also to contribute to National Heritage Week. The event drew visitors from all over Cumbria and beyond, including the acting Mayor of Millom Simone Faulkner, the Chair of Millom & Haverigg Civic Society Irene Rogan, and representatives of Cumbria Arts & Culture Network Kate Parry and Tom Speight. A big thank-you to everyone who came, and all who contributed to and organised the exhibition.
18/9/22
18/9/22
Our Walking Trails App has been highlighted in the Guardian! Today's travel feature by Phoebe Taplin is a lovely report on an exhilarating visit to West Cumbria, including Millom, where the writer finds out about Norman Nicholson and comes across our app. Read Phoebe's article HERE.
26/7/22
26/7/22
We've received some excellent news! Nicholson House has been officially designated a 'priority project' by the Millom Town Deal, which means we are one of the projects that the Town Deal Board will submit to the Government for funding in the very near future. This is part of the Stronger Towns scheme in which Millom can apply for up to £20 million in funding to improve the community and infrastructure.
This is very encouraging - but it doesn't mean that we can celebrate just yet. The Government has to approve or reject the Millom application first, and that decision is due in the autumn. If favourable, we would then have to submit a detailed case to the Millom Board, with a response likely early in 2023. And we know that the Board would not hand us the total amount we need to breathe new life in Norman's home; we would still need additional funding from elsewhere. But this is a big step in the right direction, and could prove crucial in unlocking contributions from the other funders, both national and Cumbrian, with whom we continue to maintain a positive dialogue.
11/7/22
This is very encouraging - but it doesn't mean that we can celebrate just yet. The Government has to approve or reject the Millom application first, and that decision is due in the autumn. If favourable, we would then have to submit a detailed case to the Millom Board, with a response likely early in 2023. And we know that the Board would not hand us the total amount we need to breathe new life in Norman's home; we would still need additional funding from elsewhere. But this is a big step in the right direction, and could prove crucial in unlocking contributions from the other funders, both national and Cumbrian, with whom we continue to maintain a positive dialogue.
11/7/22
Three of our board members had a very valuable and informative meeting last Friday with Jeff Cowton, principal curator at Wordsworth Grasmere. Charlie Lambert, Janice Brockbank and Sue Dawson had the chance to tap into Jeff's own experience of running a literary house, as well as enjoying a tour of Dove Cottage. We're really grateful to Jeff for giving us his time and passing on a lot of advice on a range of topics.
Jeff Cowton (left) with Charlie, Janice and Sue at Dove Cottage
3/5/22
Members of Millom 41 Club joined us for a tour of Nicholson locations and poetry readings yesterday. It was particularly atmospheric reading Sea to the West by Norman's grave as the sun set.
Let my eyes at the last be blinded
Not by the dark
But by dazzle.
Thank you to Mark Duckworth on behalf of the 41 Club for a very kind donation to our GoFundMe page which now totals £11,319. All money raised through GoFundMe will be matched by the Architectural Heritage Fund, up to a maximum of £20,000.
28/4/22
Let my eyes at the last be blinded
Not by the dark
But by dazzle.
Thank you to Mark Duckworth on behalf of the 41 Club for a very kind donation to our GoFundMe page which now totals £11,319. All money raised through GoFundMe will be matched by the Architectural Heritage Fund, up to a maximum of £20,000.
28/4/22
We were pleased to welcome MA students from the University of Cumbria to the house on Friday (April 8th), as part of their studies of Nicholson's work. They were able to explore the environment that inspired Nicholson and heard an audio recording of him reading his poetry in his attic bedroom, the place where he did most of his writing. The group, headed by their programme leader Dr Penny Bradshaw, visited other significant locations in Millom including the site of the Ironworks, Hodbarrow, and St George's Church where they saw the Nicholson memorial window.
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11/4/22 pictures courtesy of Janice Brockbank and Dr Penny Bradshaw
The project to buy and renovate the Millom home of the Cumbrian poet Norman Nicholson has chalked up a major success thanks to the Architectural Heritage Fund.
The AHF, which works to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, has awarded the project Crowdfunder Challenge status. This means they will match pound-for-pound all money raised by Nicholson House's online crowdfunding campaign.
Chair of Norman Nicholson House Charlie Lambert said: 'This is wonderful news, especially because the AHF are backdating this award so that all the money we've raised so far has doubled overnight. Our GoFundMe campaign has just hit its initial target of £10,000 and we will now extend that target, knowing that every donation immediately becomes worth twice as much'.
It means that the project has now secured over £126,000 from a range of sources towards its aim to turn the house in St George's Terrace into a place that will make a lively contribution to the community, as well as celebrating the life and work of the poet. Charlie said: 'We are well on our way, but we are still talking to funding organisations because this is a sizeable and ambitious project.'
Donate through the Crowdfunder campaign - and your money will immediately be doubled by the Architectural Heritage Fund.
19/1/22
The AHF, which works to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, has awarded the project Crowdfunder Challenge status. This means they will match pound-for-pound all money raised by Nicholson House's online crowdfunding campaign.
Chair of Norman Nicholson House Charlie Lambert said: 'This is wonderful news, especially because the AHF are backdating this award so that all the money we've raised so far has doubled overnight. Our GoFundMe campaign has just hit its initial target of £10,000 and we will now extend that target, knowing that every donation immediately becomes worth twice as much'.
It means that the project has now secured over £126,000 from a range of sources towards its aim to turn the house in St George's Terrace into a place that will make a lively contribution to the community, as well as celebrating the life and work of the poet. Charlie said: 'We are well on our way, but we are still talking to funding organisations because this is a sizeable and ambitious project.'
Donate through the Crowdfunder campaign - and your money will immediately be doubled by the Architectural Heritage Fund.
19/1/22
Audio recordings of Norman Nicholson reading his own work are now available to anyone who downloads the walking trails app which was launched by Norman Nicholson House last year.
This new addition to the app features two of Nicholson’s most loved poems, The Shadow of Black Combe and On the Dismantling of Millom Ironworks. The recordings were originally made in the 1980s by another Cumbria poet Mike Smith, who has generously given permission for their use.
Chair of Norman Nicholson House Charlie Lambert said: ‘Nicholson’s poetry strikes so many chords and to hear it being read by the man himself in his own environment is a wonderful experience. We are grateful to Mike for allowing us to use his recordings’.
The walking trails app features two routes around Nicholson’s home town of Millom, taking participants to significant landmarks and places of interest, accompanied by text, photographs and audio, all available on a smartphone. The app was launched in March 2021 thanks to funding from Millom Towns Fund. It is free to download and can be accessed through Google Play or the App Store. Search for ‘Norman Nicholson’s Millom’, or check the details HERE.
10/1/22
This new addition to the app features two of Nicholson’s most loved poems, The Shadow of Black Combe and On the Dismantling of Millom Ironworks. The recordings were originally made in the 1980s by another Cumbria poet Mike Smith, who has generously given permission for their use.
Chair of Norman Nicholson House Charlie Lambert said: ‘Nicholson’s poetry strikes so many chords and to hear it being read by the man himself in his own environment is a wonderful experience. We are grateful to Mike for allowing us to use his recordings’.
The walking trails app features two routes around Nicholson’s home town of Millom, taking participants to significant landmarks and places of interest, accompanied by text, photographs and audio, all available on a smartphone. The app was launched in March 2021 thanks to funding from Millom Towns Fund. It is free to download and can be accessed through Google Play or the App Store. Search for ‘Norman Nicholson’s Millom’, or check the details HERE.
10/1/22
A very happy Christmas to all our friends and supporters. Thank you to everyone who has supported our project this year, especially The Architectural Heritage Fund, Museum Matters, Millom Towns Fund, Copeland Borough Council, all those who've downloaded our walking trails apps, and everyone who has donated to our GoFundMe online campaign. The prospects for 2022 are looking bright! Here's to a successful year ahead.
24/12/21
24/12/21
We've just completed a really valuable consultancy with museum/business specialist Jennie Pitceathly of Museum Matters, who has provided us with detailed information and recommendations regarding the Nicholson display section of the house, and the way we will present the whole house from the cafe on the ground floor to Norman's famous attic room. Jennie has a fantastic track record in the sector, having also worked with Wordsworth Grasmere, Blackwell, Windermere Jetty and Pennine Lancashire Museums among many others. Her input has been immensely beneficial as we prepare to approach funders in the coming weeks. Jennie's consultancy was funded mainly by a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund with the balance coming from donations to Norman Nicholson House. We are immensely grateful to the AHF for their support, and also to everyone who has donated.
14/10/21
14/10/21
Millom Arts & Heritage Centre, which has undergone a very impressive revamp over the last few months, is offering 10% off any of Norman Nicholson's books to anyone who can show them that they've downloaded our walking trails app. This is a great chance to buy a Nicholson book and take it with you as you follow the poet's footsteps along either of the two trails - which start at the Centre. Thank you to the Centre for promoting the app! The trails can be found by downloading the app from either the Apple Store or Google Play - iPhone users click on Apple Store; for android devices click on Google Play. Search for 'Norman Nicholson's Millom'.
14/9/21
14/9/21
The Government has announced that Millom is to receive £20.6 million in investment thanks to an application by Millom Town Deal Board submitted through Copeland Borough Council. Our project has been included in the Millom Board's discussions and we await further information as to whether Norman Nicholson House will be one of the projects invited to develop their plans further. Read the announcement from Copeland Borough Council HERE.
15/7/21
15/7/21
A former student at Barrow Sixth Form College KAREN SEWARD has made a wonderfully generous donation of £5,000 to our GoFundMe campaign, in memory of her former English teacher WILF KIMBER who died last year at the age of 97.
Karen, who attended the Sixth Form College from 1981 to 1983, is now global head of litigation at the London-based Allen and Overy law firm. She said: ‘Wilf Kimber was an inspirational teacher who gave me a lifelong love of the wonderful work of Norman Nicholson. Nicholson was a brilliant poet and has not achieved the recognition that he so richly deserves’.
Anyone wanting to help the GoFundMe campaign reach its target of £10,000 can donate at www.gofundme.com. Money raised will contribute to the overall cost of buying and restoring Nicholson’s home. We are currently approaching major funders for the lion’s share of the total costs.
The GoFundMe page is a small part of this, but it shows potential funders that Nicholson enthusiasts are willing to put in money of their own to make it happen.
Karen said: ‘The Nicholson House project will, I am sure, go a long way towards cementing for Nicholson the reputation that should be his by right, as one of the greatest of British poets’.
17/5/21
Karen, who attended the Sixth Form College from 1981 to 1983, is now global head of litigation at the London-based Allen and Overy law firm. She said: ‘Wilf Kimber was an inspirational teacher who gave me a lifelong love of the wonderful work of Norman Nicholson. Nicholson was a brilliant poet and has not achieved the recognition that he so richly deserves’.
Anyone wanting to help the GoFundMe campaign reach its target of £10,000 can donate at www.gofundme.com. Money raised will contribute to the overall cost of buying and restoring Nicholson’s home. We are currently approaching major funders for the lion’s share of the total costs.
The GoFundMe page is a small part of this, but it shows potential funders that Nicholson enthusiasts are willing to put in money of their own to make it happen.
Karen said: ‘The Nicholson House project will, I am sure, go a long way towards cementing for Nicholson the reputation that should be his by right, as one of the greatest of British poets’.
17/5/21
OUR WALKING TRAILS APP IS LIVE! An app which will guide people on two walking trails around the Millom area has been launched. The app can be downloaded free of charge to the user’s smartphone and uses GPS technology to navigate the two routes.
It has been produced by Norman Nicholson House Community Interest Company, which aims to raise funds to buy and renovate the Millom home of the 20th century poet Norman Nicholson.
The two trails are a 1.5 mile walk around Millom town centre and a 6.5 mile route from the town to the Duddon estuary, the site of the town’s former Ironworks, and Hodbarrow RSPB nature reserve.
Users of the app will find information and photographs for each location along the way, along with an audio description, and extracts from Norman Nicholson’s writings.
They can also hear a welcome from Lord Melvyn Bragg, president of the Norman Nicholson Society, and personal memories of Millom’s past from lifelong local residents Brian Maggs, a former employee at the Ironworks, and Dorothy Richardson, whose father was the harbourmaster in the days when Millom was a busy port.
Funding for the app, costing £20,000 for a five-year maintenance and development deal, has come from Copeland Borough Council through the Government’s Towns Fund strategy. The contract includes the potential for further trails to be added in the future. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Chair of Norman Nicholson House CIC Charlie Lambert said: ‘The app is brilliant. It’s free to download, easy to use, and it takes users on a journey through time as well as along two fascinating and uplifting routes. I’m very grateful to Copeland Borough Council for funding this and to everyone who has contributed towards making it happen.’
The trails can be found by downloading the app from either the Apple Store or Google Play - iPhone users click on Apple Store; for android devices click on Google Play.
At the same time Norman Nicholson House is unveiling a Crowdfunder campaign to raise some of the money needed for its project to buy Nicholson’s old home. Charlie Lambert said: ‘All contributions are really welcome. You can chip in by going to GoFundMe.com and search for Norman Nicholson House.’
Digital development of the app is by Agnes Control of Workington and Llama Digital of Sheffield. Graphic design by AR Graphic Design of Maryport. Content created by Norman Nicholson House CIC. Heritage consultant Marshall Mossop.
It has been produced by Norman Nicholson House Community Interest Company, which aims to raise funds to buy and renovate the Millom home of the 20th century poet Norman Nicholson.
The two trails are a 1.5 mile walk around Millom town centre and a 6.5 mile route from the town to the Duddon estuary, the site of the town’s former Ironworks, and Hodbarrow RSPB nature reserve.
Users of the app will find information and photographs for each location along the way, along with an audio description, and extracts from Norman Nicholson’s writings.
They can also hear a welcome from Lord Melvyn Bragg, president of the Norman Nicholson Society, and personal memories of Millom’s past from lifelong local residents Brian Maggs, a former employee at the Ironworks, and Dorothy Richardson, whose father was the harbourmaster in the days when Millom was a busy port.
Funding for the app, costing £20,000 for a five-year maintenance and development deal, has come from Copeland Borough Council through the Government’s Towns Fund strategy. The contract includes the potential for further trails to be added in the future. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Chair of Norman Nicholson House CIC Charlie Lambert said: ‘The app is brilliant. It’s free to download, easy to use, and it takes users on a journey through time as well as along two fascinating and uplifting routes. I’m very grateful to Copeland Borough Council for funding this and to everyone who has contributed towards making it happen.’
The trails can be found by downloading the app from either the Apple Store or Google Play - iPhone users click on Apple Store; for android devices click on Google Play.
At the same time Norman Nicholson House is unveiling a Crowdfunder campaign to raise some of the money needed for its project to buy Nicholson’s old home. Charlie Lambert said: ‘All contributions are really welcome. You can chip in by going to GoFundMe.com and search for Norman Nicholson House.’
Digital development of the app is by Agnes Control of Workington and Llama Digital of Sheffield. Graphic design by AR Graphic Design of Maryport. Content created by Norman Nicholson House CIC. Heritage consultant Marshall Mossop.
29/3/21
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE LAUNCH OF OUR TRAILS APP
- Whitehaven News report: https://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/news/19197001.new-app-launch-celebrates-millom-nicholson/
- News & Star report: https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19195214.new-app-launch-celebrates-millom-nicholson/
- Cumbria Crack report: https://cumbriacrack.com/2021/03/31/norman-nicholson-walking-app-launches-for-millom/
FUNDING AWARD FROM AHF We're delighted to announce the award of a grant of £7,800 from the Architectural Heritage Fund. The money is earmarked for specialist consultancy work as we continue our efforts to breathe new life into Nicholson's old home. It will enable us to tap into the expertise of specialists in museum design and business planning.
The AHF is a registered charity which promotes the conservation and sustainable re-use of heritage buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK.
Chair of the Project Charlie Lambert said: ‘We are very grateful to the Architectural Heritage Fund – not just for the money, which of course is very welcome, but also for showing such faith in a project which is quite different from the majority of schemes which they support. This shows that a Victorian terraced house in a street in Cumbria has a value and a story which are well worth preserving and celebrating.’
18/2/21
The AHF is a registered charity which promotes the conservation and sustainable re-use of heritage buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK.
Chair of the Project Charlie Lambert said: ‘We are very grateful to the Architectural Heritage Fund – not just for the money, which of course is very welcome, but also for showing such faith in a project which is quite different from the majority of schemes which they support. This shows that a Victorian terraced house in a street in Cumbria has a value and a story which are well worth preserving and celebrating.’
18/2/21
MAYOR OF COPELAND Mike Starkie has described our Nicholson Trails App as 'an exciting and important project for the Millom community.' Mike's very encouraging comment comes as Copeland Borough Council issue a news release confirming funding for the project. See full statement here.
17/11/20
17/11/20
'I CAN'T IMAGINE A MORE IMPORTANT CULTURAL STEP' Our project to buy Norman Nicholson's house and turn it into a genuine community asset has received a wonderful endorsement from the director of the Brantwood Trust, the organisation which looks after John Ruskin's house overlooking Coniston. Howard Hull has contacted us to say: 'I cannot imagine a more important cultural step for Cumbria or a greater joy for Millom than that Nicholson’s legacy should be fully celebrated in the very building which was so much a part of his life. As the Director of the home of one of Cumbria’s other great cultural figures, John Ruskin, I know how powerful and important is the influence of the actual dwelling of a great writer'. Thank you Howard - this means a lot!
9/11/2020
9/11/2020
MORE SUPPORT! the Architectural Heritage Fund is backing us by funding Project Advisor support over the coming weeks. We're really grateful to the AHF for this very positive move.
BIG NEWS TODAY! we're to receive funds from the Government's Towns Fund through
Copeland Borough Council to create a state-of-the-art app, providing trails around Norman Nicholson's home town of Millom and the beautiful surroundings. Our sincere thanks to the elected mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie, Copeland Borough Council, and the Millom Town Fund team. Read Copeland Council's statement here . Updates on the progess of this exciting project will be posted on this page and on our social media.
25/9/2020
Copeland Borough Council to create a state-of-the-art app, providing trails around Norman Nicholson's home town of Millom and the beautiful surroundings. Our sincere thanks to the elected mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie, Copeland Borough Council, and the Millom Town Fund team. Read Copeland Council's statement here . Updates on the progess of this exciting project will be posted on this page and on our social media.
25/9/2020