Case Study
Acumen Comunity Buildings: Building Bridges and Planting Seeds
Acumen Community Buildings
The organisation provides office accommodation, co-working space and support for social enterprises, businesses, groups and individuals creating social impact. It runs a Grade II* listed building, the Old Rectory, as a hub for place- based social action in Houghton- le-Spring and the surrounding Coalfields area of Sunderland.
Tocketts Mill was the Trust’s first project and the only one it still manages. Having restored much of the mill, the Trust is keen to ensure its legacy survives.
Members Projects in the Spotlight
In 2017, founder Kate Welch viewed a tithe barn in the grounds of the Old Rectory in her search for suitable premises for Gateway Wheelers, a charity making cycling accessible. When enquiring about the lease, she discovered they would also have to take on the 600-year-old, Grade II* listed Old Rectory. Kate accepted the terms and formed Acumen Community Buildings, leasing the tithe barn to Gateway Wheelers, which continues to operate from the site.
The Building
Records suggest the Old Rectory was built around a fortified tower sometime before 1311. In 1483, the rectory was fortified by Henry Keeling in response to the tense relations between England and Scotland. Keeling embattled the house without seeking a licence, a crime the Bishop of Durham later pardoned him for. In 1664, much of the site was rebuilt, and a chapel and a gate were added, now located in the graveyard across the road. Buildings were constructed, altered and removed over the next 400 years and although primarily a rectory, the site had different uses – at one point, a charity school for girls operated from the gatehouse. In 1949, the grounds opened as public gardens. Houghton Urban District Council bought them and the Old Rectory for £10,000 later that year. The Old Rectory was granted Grade II* listed status in 1950, and many of its auxiliary buildings were demolished to make way for new offices. The council vacated the building in 2010, and the offices were demolished the following year. There are currently plans to use its concrete footprint as a car park.
In 2017, founder Kate Welch viewed a tithe barn in the grounds of the Old Rectory in her search for suitable premises for Gateway Wheelers, a charity making cycling accessible. When enquiring about the lease, she discovered they would also have to take on the 600-year-old, Grade II* listed Old Rectory.
The Project
As a council-owned building, the Old Rectory was in a stable condition when Acumen Community Buildings moved in, in 2017. The charity was able to start working with the community immediately to build relationships and develop an events programme to meet their needs. For example, hosting a youth club, holiday activities, a warm space serving refreshments, and the annual Houghton Feast for the community.
The importance of good community relations was highlighted the year after opening when wheelie bins were set alight next to the building’s east wing, causing considerable damage. In 2020, the fire-damaged brickwork was restored, and funding was secured from Suez Community Trust to carry out essential repairs to the roof and guttering. In 2021, additional funds allowed stone masons to undertake restoration work on the chimney stacks.
Acumen Community Buildings strives to make the Old Rectory a versatile space that meets the needs of its community while maintaining many of its historic features, including removing the clunky trunking and other interior modifications made by the council. Much of the first floor has been divided into workspaces and is rented by social enterprises.
The project has recruited volunteers to help transform the former council chambers. Along with splitting the large tables to make them more usable, volunteers have been taught traditional upholstery techniques and are re-upholstering 55 chairs. Thankfully, as the building has become more embedded in the community, vandalism has stopped. In fact, anti-social behaviour in the wider area has also reduced.
The Future
The next funding application will focus on restoring the Old Rectory’s historic formal gardens. The shapes of the beds can still be seen, and research will be carried out to determine what historically accurate species to replant. As part of this funding, a gardening tutor will teach small groups about horticulture while maintaining the gardens. This will give people the opportunity to gain employment skills and qualifications and bring in new sources of income for Acumen Community Buildings.
Kate anticipates that the tapered funding towards the end of the project will encourage the development of a more sustainable financial model. The team recognises that it is important that Acumen Community Buildings become self-sustaining. Currently, the income from renting office space covers some of the staffing costs but not all.
One of Kate’s ideas is to install a second kitchen sink to enable the establishment of an outside catering company, which will help generate extra income. Beyond this, the list of future works to the building is long. Acumen Community Buildings would like to install openable double-glazed windows, rebuild the greenhouses and the bandstand that once stood in the grounds to create a permanent, alternative event space, and make every floor fully accessible.
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