Dereham Memorial Hall
The Hall was built in 1818 as a coachworks. It has gone through several transformations including picture palace, swimming pool, dance hall and concert venue. Following years of decline, Dereham Town Council commissioned Jeremy Stacey Architects to refurbish and extend the Grade 11 listed building to form a multi use community facility.
The £2.3 million pound project opened in 2011 and now provides a performance venue with a seating capacity of 294, some on seating that retracts to allow clear floor space for other activities. Great efforts were made to make a distinctive and dramatic entrance space by removing floors to create a double height light and spacious foyer.
The extensions include a café and exhibition space, WCs, meeting rooms and dressing rooms. The building is heated using gas powered heat pumps and grey water is stored in tanks in the swimming pool space below the hall floor.
