The Manse is the oldest building within the Hearth incorporating many features of architectural interest from the sixteenth century. These can be seen in the wattle and daub walls making up the main corridor in the coffee shop and in the fireplace and adjoining window in the Pipers room. During the late seventeenth century the attic studio was used as a refuge from religious persecution. Secret meetings were held in the attic by people who would not conform to the act that insisted every clergyman consented to all that was written in the Book of Common Prayer. During alterations to the building in the 1880’s a pewter communion set was found in the attic and today on is display in the church. In the Victorian period when the church was rebuilt alterations were also made to the front and rear of the manse. It is a long time since a minister lived in the manse and for many years it was rented to private families the last of which left in the late 1990’s when the building became derelict. The Victorian porch at the front fell in a gale and was replaced in the 1970’s by the current porch.
The congregational church in Horsley was founded in the mid 17th century. However the original church building was replaced during the Victorian period in the Gothic revival style of architecture. Today the church is under the guidance of the United Reformed Church who were responsible for developing the Hearth project in 2004. The church is linked to several religious denominations under the Wylam and District partnership of churches
The other main building in the Hearth is the Victorian schoolroom established in 1879. This was also the church hall and youth club until the Hearth hall came into being. A snooker table was actually dismantled in the Snooker studio. During restoration of the schoolroom in 2003 a false ceiling was removed to expose a beautiful wooden structure. As in the case of the many Victorian buildings the heating was provided by coal fires. There is a fireplace in almost every room in the Hearth. This is another good reason for the choice of the name.
The rear courtyard had outside toilets, storeroom and coal house. The car park was once the church garden. Thomas Trewrent the first minister at Horsley is rumoured to have been buried in the garden in 1676. Having been excommunicated from the Church of England he was not allowed to be buried on consecrated ground.