Dragon Hall, Norwich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dragon Hall
The Old Barge
Location	Norwich, Norfolk
Built	14th century with 15th century rebuilding and additions
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated	26 February 1954
Reference no.	1051236
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Dragon Hall is a really old building in Norwich, Norfolk. It's a special kind of trading hall from the Middle Ages, built by a merchant. It's located on King Street, very close to the River Wensum. Since 2018, it has been home to the National Centre for Writing.

People think it's the only trading hall like it in Northern Europe that was owned by just one person. In the 1400s, it was on the main road through Norwich. Boats could bring goods right to it from places like the Low Countries (modern-day Netherlands and Belgium) using the river and Great Yarmouth. Today, Dragon Hall is known as one of Norwich's most important old buildings.

The main hall on the first floor was built in the 1400s. But some parts of the land are even older. Experts have found signs of an Anglo-Saxon hut from around the year 1000 beneath the hall. In the late 1200s, an abbey from Woburn, Bedfordshire, used part of the site for processing fish. They had buildings and a path to a quay (a place where boats load and unload).

Around 1330, a house owned by John Page was built on the southern part of the site. It had a basement area called an undercroft.

In about 1427, a Norwich merchant named Robert Toppes changed the site a lot. He built his big trading hall on the first floor. It was built on top of parts of the older house and the existing wall. He kept the old entrance for his customers. From the entrance, customers would go up a new staircase to the trading hall.

This hall was made of timber, using about 1,000 English oak trees. It had special carvings of 14 dragons! At the back of the building, Robert Toppes made a yard with river access. This was for bringing in and sending out goods. He also had a warehouse area under the hall.

Who Was Robert Toppes?

We don't know much about Robert Toppes before the 1420s, when he bought the land for Dragon Hall. He was a successful merchant. He sold worsted cloth and bought things like finished fabrics, iron goods, wine, and spices.

Robert Toppes became a very important person in Norwich. He was the city's Treasurer before he was 30. Later, he became Sheriff. He was also mayor four times and represented Norwich in Parliament four times. He faced some challenges in city politics, including a time he had to leave the city for a while.

His second wife, Joan Knyvett, was related to the Paston family, who are famous for their old letters, the Paston Letters. Robert Toppes owned many properties across East Anglia. He also paid for a large stained-glass window in the church of St Peter Mancroft, and some parts of it are still there today. When he died in 1467, he arranged for priests to pray for him. He paid for this by selling his property on King Street.

Dragon Hall Through the Years (1467-1960s)

After Robert Toppes died and the hall was sold in 1467, it was slowly divided into many smaller houses. The original large windows were replaced with doors and smaller windows. New floors and cellars were added inside. The building became known as the Old Barge Building, named after a nearby pub.

Many small, crowded houses were built around Dragon Hall. By the 1800s, about 150 people were living there. In 1937, a program to clear out crowded housing removed most of these buildings behind the hall. By the 1950s, the front of Dragon Hall facing King Street was a butcher's shop. There was also a rectory (a priest's house) behind it and the Old Barge pub nearby. In 1954, Dragon Hall was given Grade I listed building status, which means it's a very important historic building.

Bringing Dragon Hall Back to Life (1970s-2006)

After more study, experts realized how important Dragon Hall was. A group was formed to restore it. In 1979, Norwich City Council bought the building, which was empty at the time. A big project began to raise money, restore the hall, and research its history.

The Norfolk and Norwich Heritage Trust was created to manage the hall. Walls, attic floors, chimneys, and fireplaces that had been added over the years were removed. The hall was brought back to look more like it did originally. In 1986, it was officially renamed 'Dragon Hall'. It became a place for visitors, a resource for the local community, and an educational center.

In 1997 and 1998, a major archaeological dig happened behind the hall. More improvements were made in 2005 and 2006, thanks to a grant. A new north wing was added with displays, a lift, offices, a kitchen, and a meeting room.

The National Centre for Writing

In 2015, the Writers’ Centre Norwich took over the lease for Dragon Hall. In 2016, the Norfolk and Norwich Heritage Trust finished its work. In 2018, the Writers’ Centre Norwich became the National Centre for Writing. They added more office and meeting spaces. An old cottage on the site was also turned into a place for visiting writers and translators to stay.

The Dragon Hall Volunteers are still active today. They give tours, talk to local groups, and help protect the history of Dragon Hall. They are creating an online collection of documents and photos. They also have a local history study group and a Mummers group (who perform traditional plays).

Visiting Dragon Hall

You can usually take a guided tour of Dragon Hall twice a month. You need to book these tours in advance. During Heritage Open Days in September, extra tours are often available. Special tours for groups can also be arranged.

Images for kids

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  Dragon Hall in Norwich