Project charts the history of King Street in Norwich

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The project will create a digital archive of King Street's history

One of Norwich's most historic buildings has become the focal point of a £50,000 research project to discover the untold story of the local area.

Dragon Hall on King Street is running a two-year community project to create a digital archive of stories charting the area and the people who lived there.

"King Street has undergone great change over the years," said Stephanie Potts, general manager of Dragon Hall.

"As it continues to do so we hope to maintain community spirit," she added.

The project, called King Street Community Voices, has been under development by the Norfolk and Norwich Heritage Trust since 1985.

It will recall the ancient area surrounding Dragon Hall stretching north to Norwich Cathedral, south to Bracondale, east to the River Wensum and west to Ber Street.

Volunteers

The medieval hall has taken on volunteers to help with the archive and it is hoped schools, residents associations, other voluntary organisations and local enthusiasts will also become involved.

BBC Voices, The East Anglian Film Archive and The Forum Trust are also providing their expertise in tracing the changing face of the city.

"As well as people who remember King Street during the war, we are also talking to a manager from The Waterfront who recalls seeing a band at The Ferryboat that inspired him to seek a career in the music industry," said Natasha Harlow, learning officer at Dragon Hall.

"We do want to include recent memories just as much as older ones," she added.

Launch

The project is launching with a two-week event called How the 20th Century Transformed Our City, at Fusion in The Forum, Norwich, which runs until Friday, 26 March 2010.

Dragon Hall staff and volunteers will be on hand to explain how people can take part, accompanied by a short film shot inside the former Old Barge Inn.

"In various ways Dragon Hall has been at the centre of the local community since it was first built in the 15th Century," said Stephanie.

"We now feel the time is right to involve everyone around us to contribute their individual knowledge and memories for the benefit of the wider community," she added.

Dragon Hall is open from Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm, and Sundays from 12am to 4pm.

Access to the building is via its new entrance on King Street.