Hearth Historic Buildings Trust

Hearth Historic Buildings Trust

Named after	Historic Environmental and Architectural Rehabilitation Trust for Housing
Formation	1972
Founder	Charles Brett Ulster Architectural Heritage Society National Trust
Founded at	Belfast
Type	Registered society [1]
Purpose	Architectural conservation and housing
Headquarters	The Old Museum 7 College Square North Belfast BT1 6AS
Chairman	Alastair Rankin
Website	https://hearthni.org.uk/

Riddel's warehouse in 2014.

Hearth Historic Buildings Trust is an architectural heritage, conservation and housing organisation which operates in Northern Ireland and is headquartered in Belfast. ^[2]

The organisation was established as a joint initiative by the National Trust and the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAH) in 1972 and named the Historic Environmental and Architectural Rehabilitation Trust for Housing (HEARTH). It was established following the passing of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. ^[3]

It has restored almost 40 buildings across its history. It was lead in its early years by Charles Brett who was its first chairman. ^[4]

In 1991, the organisation changed its name to the Hearth Revolving Fund to reflect its model of restoring properties and selling them to fund further projects.

In 2017, the name was officially changed to Hearth Historic Buildings Trust.

Recent notable projects include ongoing works on restoring Riddel's Warehouse in Belfast. ^{[5] [6]}

Hearth Housing Association

From 1978 to 2016, the Hearth committee established and ran its own sister charity, Hearth Housing Association which restored at least 100 houses. ^[7]

In 2016, Hearth Housing Association merged with Clanmil Housing Association becoming its heritage housing division. ^[8]

External links

• Instagram profile

References

1. "HEARTH HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
2. "Hearth Historic Buildings Trust - UAH". UAH. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
3. "FCA REGISTER - Hearth Historic Buildings Trust". mutuals.fca.org.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
4. "Brett, (Sir) Charles Edward Bainbridge". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
5. "Riddel's Warehouse: Plea to council to help restore Victorian building". www.bbc.com. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
6. Breslin, John (9 January 2024). "Trust transforming historic Belfast warehouse "shocked" at council decision to pull proposed funding". The Irish News. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
7. "Home". Hearth Historic Buildings Trust. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
8. "About us". Hearth Historic Buildings Trust. Retrieved 30 January 2026.