Listed building to be given life as new funeral home for Hillier

The family owned local company has been based on Victoria Road for 24 years but will be moving into Kingshill House, a Victorian villa situated on Kent Road, summer of next year.

Kingshill House

Rebecca Hillier, General Manager for Hillier says buying the building has been an eighteen month process

"We had outgrown our Victoria Road office. We didn't have the space that we would like when making our arrangements with families.

"We looked for a while for somewhere suitable but it's very hard to find somewhere in, or near, the town centre that has enough space and also parking.

"We saw Kingshill House and thought it'd be perfect so we put the offer in for it in February 2020 and we've been in pre-planning until a month ago when we got approval."

The building is currently divided into three flats but Rebecca and father Mark have grand plans for the space.

"It's a beautiful building. What we really want to do is, not necessarily restore it, open it back out to how it was before it was made into flats. Other than that there's not much we need, or want to do, just redecoration," she said.

The only major work is on an extension to the building which will be converted into a mortuary.

There are plans for two chapel of rests, a kitchen for functions, and even a room for small services to take place.

This room is set to become a room for services

"There aren't very many venue options for people when it comes to funeral services, so to be able to hold some here would be great. It's not something ever been offered before from a funeral service," Rebecca said. 

The historic 16-bedroom Kingshill House property was placed on the market in January 2020 for £1.3million

It was built in the mid-1800s and became the town's first ever maternity house in 1931 where it helped to deliver babies for 40 years.

"I found out just recently that my aunty was born in this building," Rebecca quipped

In 2011 it was purchased by charity The Kingshill Trust, who renovated it into a community hub and spiritual refuge.

Rebecca has only been General Manager a month, after recently returning from maternity leave so this marks a personal transition period for her, as well as the business, making her the fourth generation of Hillier to take the helm.

"We want it to be at the same high standard we have at our other locations, but also remain sympathetic to the building."

"We're never going to move from here now. It's an investment into the future."

This grand hallway is what people will see when they enter