The Story of the Old Skating Rink
The South Asia Collection, 34-36 Bethel Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1NR
The Old Skating Rink is a beautiful Victorian building designed and built by Norwich builders, with an airy hall and a huge wooden vaulted ceiling. It opened its doors to skaters for the first time in 1876 with a lavish event so grand it was reported county-wide. Since then the building has had many uses including as a Vaudeville theatre and a store for a builders' merchant.
In 1993, Philip and Jeannie Millward, founders of The South Asia Collection purchased and restored the building to its former glory. Today, exhibitions and displays of architectural elements, furniture, textiles, paintings and prints, and other handcrafted everyday objects from South and South East Asia can be seen where Victorian roller skaters once glided beneath the impressive arched roof.
The Old Skating Rink is open Monday to Saturday 0930 - 1700 and is free to visit. However, please book for the talk using the details below.
Timings & Tours
- Wednesday 11 September:
- 1130-1215
Location & directions
The South Asia Collection, 34-36 Bethel Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1NR
- Directions:
- We are located on Bethel Street, a short walk from Norwich market, The Forum and Chapelfield Gardens.
- Contact on day:
- Trish Mercer-David or Hannah Bentley
- Telephone number:
- +441603663890
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- Please email or call in advance to book onto this talk.
- Booking contact name:
- Trish Mercer-David or Hannah Bentley
- Booking telephone number:
- +441603663890
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
- Booking opens:
- 19 Aug 2024 10:00 AM
- Booking closes:
- 05 Sep 2024 05:00 PM
Accessibility details
Free disabled parking on site in our small car park, if there is overfill, The Forum is the nearest fully accessible parking facility. All of our ground floor, which houses the museum, is wheelchair accessible. The upstairs which is part of our shop is not. Our main entrance is a wide double door. No ramp is required to get into our building as it the ground floor is all the same level. We do not have any public toilet facilities on site, the nearest fully accessible public toilets are a few minutes walk away at The Forum.
Additional information
- Max no of people per tour:
- 30
- Est. tour duration:
- 0 hour(s) 45 minute(s)
