Dereham Assembly Rooms

The imposing Georgian brick building was built shortly after Thomas Ivory remodelled the celebrated Assembly House in Norwich, and sixty years before a similar building was built in Swaffham. This is an indication of an increasingly affluent group of merchants and gentry in the Dereham area whose social life was becoming more focused on the local urban community. As the name suggests, the main purpose was to provide a venue for fashionable gatherings (or ‘assemblies') as well as a meeting room for lectures, concerts, civic and local government, and for local societies. Magistrates’ Courts were held there fortnightly. Thanks are due to Dereham Town Council for facilitating the opening of the Rooms.

The entrance to the Assembly Rooms was through a side entrance topped by a fine iron fanlight. From this hall a winding staircase led up to the Assembly Room itself. There was a gallery for an orchestra fronted with a wrought-iron iron balcony. The most impressive item which would have caught the eye of the visitor was the full-length portrait of George III in an ornate frame given to the Assembly Rooms on the king’s birthday in 1765 by the Marquis of Townshend. He also gave a ‘noble and public entertainment with fireworks’ in recognition of the welcome and accommodation which had been given to the western battalion of the Norfolk Militia which he commanded.

Again, you might think of Miss Lydia Bennet’s elopement with Mr Wickham, a dashing member of the local militia!

Timings & Tours

Saturday 07 September:

1000 - 1600

Saturday 14 September:

1000 - 1600

Location & directions

Dereham Assembly Rooms, Ruthen Place, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 2TX

Directions:

The Assembly Rooms are in Dereham Market Place.

Contact on day:

Jane Heyburn

Telephone number:

+447858359261

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

The Assembly Room itself is on the first floor. There is a chair lift from the ground floor to the first floor. There is a large free car park adjacent to the Cherry Tree pub on the other side of the Market Place. There is also short term parking in the Market Place.

Additional information

Dereham has a wealth of coffee shops etc providing refreshments throughout the day.

Est. tour duration:

0 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

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