Published: Friday, 16th January 2026
Published on behalf of the College of West Anglia.
The College of West Anglia (CWA) has presented a handcrafted replica of the historical St George and the Dragon plaque to King’s Lynn Guildhall. This is a significant moment as restoration of one of the town’s most significant heritage buildings gets underway.
Anne Roberts, a long-standing member of the CWA’s Art and Design team, has created the replica with support from Paul Ebbens, Ceramic Lecturer, and Matt Moore, Art and Design Technician.
The piece is a tribute to an original medieval painted timber panel and the seal of the Guild of St George, both of which bear the same design. A large carved masonry panel depicting St George and the Dragon once formed part of this lineage too, last recorded in St George’s Yard off Norfolk Street. All three works are integral to the history of the Guild of St George and are believed to date from the 15th century.
The Guildhall of St George, located in the heart of King’s Lynn, is the largest surviving 15th century guildhall in England and has played a central role in the town’s cultural and civic life for over 600 years. It has an unparallelled history of theatrical performance and is the last working theatre thought to have hosted William Shakespeare.
As the flagship scheme of the King’s Lynn Town Deal Programme and a priority of the Pride in Place Programme, the Guildhall is currently being sensitively preserved and enhanced as a local, regional and international centre for arts, creativity and theatre for everyone to enjoy.
The replica plaque’s formal hand-over ceremony took place at the CWA’s King’s Lynn campus, where Kerry Heathcote, Vice Principal and Deputy CEO at CWA, formally presented the plaque to King’s Lynn Mayor, Councillor Andy Bullen, marking the culmination of the project.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kerry Heathcote, who is also a member of King’s Lynn Neighbourhood Board, said:
“This plaque represents a meaningful collaboration between the College of West Anglia and one of King's Lynn's most treasured historical buildings. It is a privilege to see the skill, care and historical understanding that Anne, Matt and Paul have reflected in a piece that honours the town's medieval past and strengthens our connection with the local community.”
Councillor Simon Ring, Deputy Council Leader, said:
“I am absolutely delighted to see this beautiful replica plaque presented to the Guildhall. It is a wonderful example of how our local skills, creativity and heritage can come together to enrich this landmark project.
“Gifts like this demonstrate the vital role that community engagement plays in the long-term success of the restoration. The future of this historic building depends not just on bricks and mortar, but on the sense of shared ownership, pride and participation from our residents, educators and creative partners. This contribution from the College of West Anglia is exactly the kind of collaboration that will ensure the Guildhall thrives for generations to come.”
Tim FitzHigham, Creative Director for the Guildhall and Cultural Officer for the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk said:
“It is really exciting to receive such a thoughtful and appropriate gift from the College of West Anglia and especially one created with the talents of Anne Roberts who has been a long-standing supporter of the arts and theatre at the Guildhall.
“The original on which this design is based stretches back to the heart of the 15th century and is central to the story of St George’s Guild. This design can be seen on the seal of the Guild of St George in the Stories of Lynn and I encourage everyone to have a look at that too as it’s really very special.
“Plans are moving forward to ensure this wonderful gift stays safe during the renovations, after which we’d love it to form part of the interpretation journey of the newly opened site.”
Anne Roberts added:
“I really enjoyed the process of designing and creating the plaque with Paul and Matt. After being invited to create the plaque by the Shakespeare Guildhall Trust. We worked on the piece over six to nine months, developing the design around the original plaque which features St George and the Dragon into a circular form. It was wonderful to see everyone at the presentation, and I’m looking forward to visiting the plaque once the Guildhall has been fully restored.”
The Guildhall and Creative Hub project will see the medieval venue, empty buildings and courtyards revived as inspiring, welcoming spaces for everyone, creating a heritage destination, new food and drink offer, home for creative industries and year-round programme of performances, events and education programmes. The main works started in November, with the site scheduled to reopen in 2028.
The project is led by the Borough Council, in partnership with King’s Lynn Neighbourhood Board, Historic England and Norfolk Museum Service, in collaboration with the National Trust who own the freehold of part of the Guildhall site.