The Forum

When

Key dates in the history of The Forum:

• 9^th century Early settlers arrived at the site
• 11^th century The area became known as the French borough - it was one of the wealthiest parts of Norwich
• 13^th and 14^th centuries There was a slowing down of activity in the area, although brewing took place here from the 14^th century
• 15^th and 16^th centuries The arrival of the ‘Strangers' sparked renewed activity in the area
• January 1963 Norwich Central Library was opened by the Queen Mother. It was an award-winning building, designed by the architect David Percival
• 1 August 1994 A fire took hold at Norwich Central Library forcing its closure
• December 1998 - February 1999 A significant archaeological dig turned up a number of rare objects, including a tiny gold ingot, suggesting a goldsmith worked on or very near the site in the Anglo-Scandinavian period. No such collection has ever been found before in Britain
• May 1999 Construction work began on The Forum
• 17 March 2000 A time capsule was buried in the foundations of the building. It contained a newspaper, coins and plans relating to the building itself
• October 2001 The Forum was completed. It was opened to the public the following month