 Property tycoon Gerald Hitman (who died on 4 June 2009) was the man behind the Brockhall Village development, where he also built his own home, The Old Zoo.Originally from London, the successful businessman made his fortune in the North East, buying and selling property leases and freeholds.In 1982 he bought a package of deeds to properties in Lancashire, among them a 999-year lease for Brockhall Hospital, at Old Langho.