A dream to convert a disused relic of Great Yarmouth's fishing heritage into the UK's premier location for circus and street arts has received a major funding boost.
The Ice House on Bridge Road was included in the list of 12 national heritage sites awarded £12.2m worth of grants by the National Lottery.
The Grade II-listed building has been awarded £1,968,061 from the Heritage Fund, aiding its transformation into the UK’s Centre of Excellence in Outdoor Circus and Arts.
In the mid-19th century, the Ice House stood at the forefront of an industrial revolution that would propel the town's fortunes to new heights. However, as modern technologies advanced, the Ice House fell into disuse, serving for some time as a grain store.
Joe Mackintosh, Out There Arts' chief executive, said: ”We are absolutely delighted with this award. It is the culmination of over five years of work for the Out There Arts team.
"The team has worked tirelessly to develop the plans and funding for The Ice House and much of this was worked on with the community through community consultations.”
“This will transform a historically important building in Great Yarmouth’s history from an underused storage shed, into a publicly accessible cultural hub," Mr Mackintosh added.
"Thousands of people will benefit from this and it will strengthen Great Yarmouth’s year-round cultural offer.”
In Lowestoft, the town's Grade II-listed Town Hall received the lion's share of the funding, securing a grant of £3,257,512.
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