The Forum is the landmark Millennium project for the East of England. It replaces the former Central Library which was destroyed by fire in 1994.

 

Prior to construction of the new Forum, extensive archaeological investigation was carried out by the Norfolk Archaeological Unit. The site lies at the heart of an area known in the Middle Ages as the French Borough.  This was established as a colony of French traders after the Norman Conquest, between 1071 and 1075, and lay to the west of the new Castle. The Forum site was the first major site to be excavated in the Borough and provided new evidence for the development of the western part of the historic centre of Norwich.

 

The project included public access, both in the form of open days and school visits.