Art Mural, a community-led painting experience, marks the official start of the restoration of the Iron Duke Great Yarmouth
To mark the official start of the work on site, Reprezent Project held a hands-on workshop at the hoardings of The Iron Duke, inviting local residents of all ages to take part in shaping the story of this historic pub. The project is part of the restoration led by Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust and celebrates the history of the pub, its name, and the town. From painting and drawing to sharing ideas, the intention is that the community’s voice will shine through every part of this project.
The Iron Duke restoration project will breathe life back into the derelict building and give it a long-term sustainable future. Burrell Foley Fischer’s plans will see the stunning art deco building fully and faithfully restored back to how it would have originally looked in its heyday as a beacon of 1930’s modernity. The team have made use of the original plans and consulted with former owners, managers and users to ensure authenticity.
Back in November, consultation with the community began – running workshops with adults and creative paper-based activities with children and schools – to bring the community’s voice into the future vision for The Iron Duke. The very first artwork, painted by Dom Sellars together with 80 local residents during the Broken Spoke event at The Drill House, is now officially on the Iron Duke’s walls. This piece will remain part of the decoration inside once restoration is complete. The creative exercises with schools were led by Joey La Meche, helping capture children’s ideas and voices in the project.
Alongside this local documentary and editorial photographer, Debby Besford, ran photography workshops with A Level Photography students from Norwich City College. Their work will now be exhibited across town – on walls, fences, and the Iron Duke hoardings – as part of this mural project. The mural on site is now being developed by Demograffix, bringing new colour and creativity to the Iron Duke’s walls. Debby’s photographs featured here are from the first two days on site.
Photos by Debbie Besford, courtesy of Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust
The building has been vacant, neglected and forlorn since 2007. Its transformation is being made possible thanks to the Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, along with funding from Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust and Norfolk County Council. When fully repaired, the grade II listed building will be a year-round local destination, support the local economy by creating up to 50 jobs, and work with the community offering opportunities to learn, train and volunteer on a host of activities.
On the ground floor the new tenants, Zaks, will create a pub in one of the two original bars serving local beers from Lacons Brewery, who were The Iron Duke’s original owners, and cocktails with a nod to the 1930’s period. The other bar will become a restaurant where food will be cooked in view of the customers. Both bars will have an elegant art deco aesthetic which has been developed through researching the historic archives and input from conservation paint consultants, architectural historians and interior designers.
Students from North Denes Primary School take part in painting the mural
