 For 124 years the house was a private dwelling, but since 1906 it has housed the Hillsborough branch library.It is a Grade II listed building as are the coach house and stables which stand north west of the main house.Hillsborough House was built in 1779 as a dwelling for Thomas Steade (1728-1793) and his wife Meliscent, who had been living 250 yards to the east in Burrowlee House.