Work starts on restoring Swaffham Assembly Rooms

And the work on the Swaffham Assembly Rooms has even drawn a visit from South West Norfolk MP and short-lived prime minister Liz Truss.

The exterior and roof of the 1776 building is being repaired and restored by Cliveden Conservation, as part of a £825,000 High Street Heritage Action Zone project.

Ms Truss joined Tony Calladine, regional director for Historic England, and Councillor Paul Claussen, executive member for economic development at Breckland Council, on a tour of the zone.

Liz Truss MP (centre) meets with Councillor Paul Claussen (right), Executive Member for Economic Development at Breckland Council and Tony Calladine, East Regional Director, Historic England to discuss Swaffham town centre regeneration projects (Image: Breckland Council)

Lewis Proudfoot, Cliveden's managing director, said: “Swaffham Assembly Rooms is an important building for the local community, and we’re pleased to be playing a part in its regeneration. 

“Cliveden Conservation is really proud of our collaborative involvement in three Heritage Action Zone projects across the UK, the other two being in Reading and Dunstable.”

Ms Truss, Mr Claussen and Mr Calladine also met with volunteers from the town's cultural consortium, and heard about events they have hosted as part of the action zone. 

This included a programme celebrating the work of archaeologist Howard Carter, including a community archaeological dig and the creation of a mosaic pyramid.

Set up in 2020 by Breckland Council and Historic England, the High Street Heritage Action Zone is funded by more than £380,000 in taxpayer money from the government, alongside £305,000 from Breckland.

Breckland said there was also £140,000 in 'local funding'.

Historic England, Breckland, the Iceni Partnership and Swaffham Town Council are putting a combined total of £160,000 into the Assembly Rooms project.  

The building has been a focal point of the town for more than 200 years.