National Centre for Writing
The fine city of Norwich is home to many architectural wonders and the Medieval Dragon Hall on King Street is no exception. The listed building, parts of which date back to 1430, was formerly known as the Writers’ Centre Norwich and recently became home to the new National Centre for Writing, after renovation works were carried out to the great hall and a new £2 million extension built onto the existing south wing.
John Youngs carried out the works, working to the plans of Norfolk architects Lucas Hickman Smith. Where, as part of the R G Carter Group, they drew upon a wealth of experience on listed buildings to ensure the new extension was delivered successfully and that the fabric of the original Medieval building remained untouched.
The new extension, which provides high-tech educational space, allows the National Centre for Writing to provide creative writing classes for all abilities, a platform for writers to showcase their work, an education centre for young people, and a residential cottage for writers.
With backing from the likes of Ali Smith CBE, Margaret Atwood, Nobel laureate JM Coetzee and Anthony Horowitz OBE, it is hoped that the centre will help put Norwich on the map by encouraging visitors to the city.
It will be Hermes presiding over the National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall; the opener of doors, the God of travel and exchanges of all kinds.