The two names of this house imply a biblical origin. Geographically, Mount Hermon is a mountain range straddling the Syria-Lebanon border. As the highest point in the region (9,232 feet), it became a sacred biblical landmark and it is mentioned in the Old Testament several times. Mount Hermon became the northern border of the Promised Land and the territory occupied by the Israelites under Moses and Joshua. Similarly, the second name, ‘The Mount’, may have been used to name the house without its original hall name but maintain its biblical origin.
By the early 1860s Hermon Hall was the residence of James Arundale Sr (13 Feb 1809-1886), a local hat manufacturer (James Arundale & Sons). In 1863/64 he was the president of The Local Preachers' Magazine and Christian Family Record, the monthly journal of the Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association. First published in c.1851, this publication served as an important resource for Wesleyan Methodist ’local preachers’ who were laypeople preaching in their own circuits rather than using ordained ‘itinerant’ ministers. A Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was founded on Guide Ln in 1907 and rebuilt in 1864, so it is a matter of speculation as to whether Hermon Hall was ever used to hold Wesleyan Methodist services. Nevertheless, there is always the possibility that it was temporarily used to hold services during the rebuild of the chapel on Guide Ln in 1864. The Wesleyan Chapel and Hermon Hall were about 375 yards distant from each other.