In 2003 comedian Ken Dodd began a campaign to use the building to house a national archive, museum and school of British comedy.

In November 2003 the building was partially destroyed by an arson attack that had been predicted by Ken Dodd and other campaigners due to a lack of security on the site.

A further arson attack in May 2004 badly damaged the first and second floors of the building and destroyed the roof, also causing a partial collapse in a large section of the house while the fire was still blazing.

[2] Ken Dodd and the Knotty Ash Village Conservation Society then put forward proposals for the site to become a nature reserve for children with special learning needs, supported by Mersey Forest and the Forestry Commission.

In April 2006 and with campaigners having raised £80,000 the overgrown site was once again damaged by vandals, this time trees were vandalised and burned before work could begin on the proposed outdoor centre.