Medieval King Street in the heart of the city is home to Dragon Hall. Photo Jayna Makwana © 24 Hour Museum

Dragon Hall is getting a facelift. The famous Hall on King Street in Norwich has had £1.8 million pumped into improvements and is due to re-open on April 5 2006.

The spectacular renovations to the Hall, built in 1430, will be unveiled to the public following a nine-month closure.

A large, modern glass gallery will show off the 15th century timber arches for the first time in centuries. There is a new kitchen on the first floor allowing the hall to be hired for events, and a lift for disabled access and disabled toilets have both been added.

Extensive work has been carried out on the hall's interior. © The Norfolk & Norwich Heritage Trust

A whole new north wing has been built to accommodate an Events Room for school visits and a wide variety of other uses such as meetings. There has been a spectacular new wooden floor put in.

“The re-opening will be the culmination of 20 years hard work by the Norfolk and Norwich Heritage Trust,” said Stephanie Potts, Dragon Hall Manager. “Everyone involved is thrilled that this magnificent building has finally received the sympathetic restoration it deserves.”

Dragon Hall is a Grade 1 listed medieval trading hall and the only one of its kind in Europe. With the renovation it is hoped the hall will become one of the most important heritage and tourist sights in East Anglia.

© Norwich City Council

Money for the renovation work came from two sources; £1.4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £400,000 was raised by Dragon Hall staff through charity work and generous donations.

The opening comes on the back of news that Norwich Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust (HEART) has secured £1 million from the government's Invest to Save Budget (ISB). The money will be used to combine and promote 12 of Norwich’s spectacular heritage sites, Dragon Hall being amongst them.

Sarah Morley is the 24 Hour Museum/Norwich HEART Student Writer in Norwich. Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust is the groundbreaking initiative to regenerate, manage and promote one of the most remarkable heritage resources in the UK and in Europe.