Charnwood House, Hitchin's former museum, was gifted to the town in 1938 by local philanthropists Wallace and Hubert Moss, on the condition that it serve the public. 

The building has sat empty for 14 years. We're campaigning for it to reopen as Apothecary House: a genuinely community-led safe space combining a health-food café at accessible prices, a wellbeing floor with a mixed schedule of accessible movement classes, therapy rooms, an ambitious plan for youth and music space in the basement, plus the reopening Hitchin Art Gallery — built for the whole community, not a select few.

This is now live. North Herts Council is accepting proposals for the building's future, with a decision due by 19 October 2026. A few concerned residents working with Michael Collins Architects are submitting a full community-led plan, and we need Hitchin to show the Council this matters.

The Council's own current plan for the district commits to "maximising the use of our assets for community benefit, including looking at the potential to re-purpose empty buildings as Community Hubs." Charnwood House is the clearest possible example of exactly that — sitting empty while the town waits.

If you signed before, thank you — and please share this again before the 19th. If you're signing for the first time: this is the moment it matters most.