An ornate exterior is almost all that remains of this once grand residence
Grade II-listed, 1869, architect unknown
The former Horncliffe House was built for Henry Hoyle Hardman, the owner of the nearby Hardman’s Mill, in 1869, and was originally used as a private residence. It was a substantial undertaking considering the size of his family and comprised of twenty rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of living accommodation. Henry lived in the house until his death in 1888, and it remained in use by his family until 1903, passing first to his wife, Emily, and then to his daughter, Annie, until it was sold.
The building now lies empty, and though it has been turned to various alternative uses in the past – functioning as a residential home between 1969 and 1993, and as a hotel between 1993 and 2007 – a 2008 application to convert it back to a single dwelling was rejected, and there have been no further proposals to adapt it for the future. In 2019, the building was subject to an arson attack, and its ornate plaster mouldings and colourful wall paintings were lost to the fire. The exterior retains its finely-dressed stone and carved decorations, and an arched and columned entrance portico, but it is unclear how long these will last, given the absence of a repair or maintenance strategy.
Griff Rhys Jones, Victorian Society President, said: ‘Horncliffe House is a beautiful building with an unlucky history. The tragic fire that destroyed most of its interior was almost the last nail in its coffin, but the exterior still shows its grand history and potential for salvation… … This is Horncliffe’s House’s last chance. Extensive works need to be done to make sure it continues to survive, but its easy-access location just off the A56, and striking appearance, would make it an ideal restoration project. It would be wonderful to find a business or individual willing to take up this challenge and bring this fascinating piece of Lancashire’s history back to life’.
Status Update / March 2026
Since purchasing the site in 2022, the new owner has made significant steps in bringing the building back into use as a private house. The roof has been reinstated, walls and floor plates have been repaired to reinstate bracing and lateral stability, and the interiors have been made watertight for the first time in six years. An enabling development of ten newbuild houses has ensured the viability of the single-dwelling scheme, which reverts the floor plan back to its original state, with grand main rooms to the front, service rooms towards the rear, and a grand central staircase between the two.