Fascinating stories telling the history of a north Norfolk town are on show at a church for the foreseeable future.

North Norfolk News: The church exhibition. Picture: supplied by Bob WrightThe church exhibition. Picture: supplied by Bob Wright (Image: Archant)

The long-term heritage exhibition in St Nicholas Church, North Walsham has been created by Bob Wright.

He's part of the North Walsham Heritage Group, which is working to preserve the history of the town and the surrounding area.

The group aims eventually to open a permanent heritage centre to present the town's history, including archive materials, documents, and objects, to both residents and visitors, both young and old.

Mr Wright said: 'Our search for suitable premises and funding is proving long-winded and so we greatly appreciate the kind offer of space within the church that has allowed us to present this exhibition of the town's history.

'The exhibition will be open every day and, of course, be free entry.

'The group is grateful to North Norfolk District Council's (NNDC) Big Society fund and North Walsham Town Council, whose grants have supported the opening of the exhibition.'

The display was opened on Saturday, June 17 by Sallie Stuckey, Mayor of North Walsham, Tom FitzPatrick, chairman of NNDC, and Norman Lamb, North Norfolk MP.

Mr Lamb said: 'I really applaud the team that has led on this. They have got together so much invaluable information and stories from the town's past. It's a wonderful facility that, I'm sure, will be much used. It will also encourage more people into the town.'

The trio also praised the effort that went into the exhibition, and stressed the value of heritage to the town, to raise its profile and make it an attraction to visitors and tourists, and also as a source of pride to residents.

The town has been searching for a suitable museum site for decades.

Last year, according to the group, a heritage centre was due to open in the former New Road dental practice, but this did not come to fruition. It was hoped the new centre would be open in time for the 2016 North Walsham Festival, which marked the anniversary of the 1381 Peasants' Revolt, a key event in the town's past.

And in 2015 the group had pinned its hopes on converting the Feathers pub, on Market Street, into a museum, but that idea proved too costly.