Norwich cathedral's £4m project begins

FEB 2008: Work has started on a £4m building project to provide a welcome area and education centre at Norwich Cathedral.

The new development is being built on the site of the former medieval hostry, where traditionally monks would provide hospitality and medical treatment for visitors.

As well as the welcome area and education centre there will be an exhibition centre, a song school and music library and a community room.

The work, which should be completed by April 2009, is part of a programme of overall improvements to the cathedral costing £10m, the money for which was raised by a series of fundraising events and lottery funding.

It is the biggest building project at the cathedral since mediaeval times and has raised more than any other provincial cathedral appeal in Britain.

On site to mark the start of the new hostry development work was The Very Rev Graham Smith, Dean of Norwich and Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk Richard Jewson, who is a member of the Cathedral Hostry Oversight group.

The Very Revd Graham Smith said: “After so many years in the planning it is wonderful to see this exciting project starting to take shape.

“It was 12 years ago when the campaign team began their ambitious project to develop a new Refectory and hostry for Norwich Cathedral and we look forward to the day when we can once again welcome visitors through the hostry.

“There are very many people who have played a part in seeing these drawing board plans turned into reality and I would like to thank them all for making this second new development possible.

“The new hostry will be a dedicated area for visitors and education with exhibition space and meeting rooms for the wider community to use.”

The first stage of the Cathedral improvements, saw a new refectory and library built along the south wall and opened in 2004.

Pictured above on the site of the new Norwich Cathedral Hostry are Richard Jewson (left), Very Rev Graham Smith, Paul King and Gavin Napper.

Story and picture courtesy of www.edp24.co.uk