St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich is a former friary which can trace its origins back to 1226.
In 1559 it witnessed the inauguration of the city’s mayor, and its walls are still adorned with a large collection of civic portraits. Many of these also hang in the adjoining building – Blackfriars Hall – and the two spaces are collectively known as The Halls.
The Halls and adjacent buildings have seen service as a workhouse, an election ballot-counting centre, and in 1695 a mint for coinage.
Concerts and more
One of the country’s oldest music festivals began life at St Andrew’s Hall in 1824 with concerts at the hall. The Norfolk & Norwich Festival continues to flourish.
Nowadays St Andrew’s Hall is a home not only for concerts but many other events such as wedding receptions and record fairs. It is also famous for hosting the UK’s largest annual Beer Festival.
Towns Fund
Such a historic building makes for an impressive music venue, but the ancient structure also poses challenges. Recently, significant repairs to the fabric were identified and are being addressed.
Following the pandemic, Norwich was awarded a government Towns Fund payment, and part of this £25 million investment is being used by the City Council to improve St Andrew’s Hall.
Purcell Architects were chosen for their extensive experience in the restoration of historic buildings, such as Norwich’s magnificent Castle. We were delighted to be called upon as acoustics and theatre consultants.
We have completed an acoustic evaluation with recommendations to RIBA Stage 2 and we are looking forward to the concert hall’s acoustics and facilities being significantly upgraded.
Heritage
St Andrew’s Hall is part of Norwich’s fine heritage. With a focus on preservation, we hope that future generations will continue to enjoy this treasured medieval building, especially with recommended improvements.
Visit our site for updates on The Halls, as the project progresses.