About
Hillsborough Meeting House, built in 1836, is a fine example of a Quaker Meeting House from the period. Recently renovated, it retains most of its distinctive, original features.
This typical 19th century Quaker Meeting House retains a unique character and atmosphere. It has its own garden and, behind the building, a large burial ground. The meeting house has been fully restored for use as a place of worship and as a wider community facility.
The listed building, hidden behind a high wall on the busy main route into the forest park, is rarely noticed by the public. It retains the essence of the historic interior with its central vestibule and benches arranged around a circular table. The interior is divided by wooden moveable panels. This was a characteristic of many Quaker Meetings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The two rooms can be made into one for larger gatherings. Among the unique Quaker features are a gallery and elders' bench as well as the tall, shuttered windows and, outside, in the burial ground, the characteristic, simple headstones. The architecture and design, which reflect a distinctive way of life, are similar to that of two other religious groups, the Amish and the Shakers, in their austerity, simplicity and freedom from ornament and decoration.
It will be open on Saturday 13th September and local Quakers will be there to show people round the site and answer any questions.
