The Heritage Centre

Local residents, community groups and school children are able to find out about the heritage of the area as well as contribute to displays and enjoy events. The centre is fully equipped with IT equipment to allow residents to view some of the archive material held about the town.
 
All of this has been made possible through funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund,  Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services, The Geoffrey Watling Charity, The Norwich Town Close Estate Charity and other donations.

Admission is free, with a minimum suggested donation of £1 per visitor. Displays change regularly, covering topics of interest about the local area such as trades, celebrations, shopping and the people of Aylsham.

The History of Our lovely building.

Our building.

The Heritage Centre is housed in the old Parish Rooms.
It was built in 1890 by Benjamin Cooke, a miller in the town, for the grand sum of £400. It was equipped for £60 and then donated to the church. It opened on 1st October 1890.
The building has had many uses ranging from wedding receptions, children's parties, a temporary library and as a meeting room for the church choir and for the WI. Local residents recall the choir sitting around an organ with a stove for warmth. Refreshments for meetings were often prepared on a gas stove ... One resident vividly recalls the vicar lifting him through the window to unlock the door from the inside to assist a group who had been locked out!
Latterly the building was used as storage and was subsequently somewhat  neglected.

Alan Quinn and Aylsham Community Partnerships suggested that the building could be used as a heritage centre for the town and after a period of research and investigation, Matthew Thomas was appointed as architect in 2007.

Thanks to funding from a variety of sources, external work was understaken by N.F COverdale of cawston. Once usesable, funding was gained from Biffaward, HLF, Geoffry Watling Charity and Town Close Trust, and Jayne Andrew was appointed as Learning Officer to run the centre.
The centre opened to the public in July 2011.

We've won awards!

The Broadland District Council Enhancement Award 2011.
This annual award relates to conversions, extensions and alterations to existing buildings within the district which were completed in the preceeding twelve months.

Graeme Kidd Memorial Award - 2012
Created to honour the man instrumental in bringing Cittaslow to the UK. Given to projects which encapsulate Cittaslow’s holistic approach to a town - encouraging community cohesion, creating awareness of traditional foodstuffs, promoting family life and healthy living as well as promoting the conservation of historic areas and a wide cross-section of social events.

Certificate of Appreciation to the volunteers of the centre 2012, from Voluntary Norfolk and Broadland District Council 

 Royal Norfolk Show Community Champions 2013- Certificate of appreciation  in recognition of outstanding contribution of Aylsham Community Partnership to the local community.