People invited to Winter Gardens event to learn more about restoration and share memories of venue.

The event is part of a programme of community activities being planned as part of the ambitious project to restore the Winter Gardens to its former glory.

People are invited to come along to the new library and learning hub at The Place in the town's Market Place on Wednesday, August 6, from 11am until 3pm, where the aim is to start building a community archive for the Winter Gardens.

The day is being organised by the Roots and the Research Volunteers team which is working with the council as part of its community-led approach and will contribute to shaping the future of the building.

Councillor James Bensly, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Tourism, Culture and Coastal Management, said: ''We want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in this incredible project.

''Like everyone in the borough, I am enormously proud of our important seaside heritage and this restoration puts community at its heart. We want to reflect and record people's memories of what this unique building means to us in Great Yarmouth.

''We grew up with the Winter Gardens - our parents, grandparents and great grandparents have fond memories of the role it played in our lives. We want to record and maintain that history and memory for posterity so future generations and visitors can share and enjoy our proud heritage.''

At the event there will be opportunities to discover more about the project from the architects, Burrell Foley Fischer, and how to get involved with volunteering opportunities.

Creative Core - which will be providing explanatory interpretation information for visitors to the Winter Gardens - has also helped organise the event to support its design process. Insights, stories and ideas gathered during the day will help provide detail for displays at the Winter Gardens.

Councillor Bensly said: ''We'd love people to bring along things like postcards, objects, photographs or leaflets - anything which helps tell the story of the Winter Gardens. People will also be able to leave their memories on specially created postcards and memory books.

A team from Historic England - which recently awarded a £500,000 grant towards the restoration - will also be on hand and there will be a collection of objects from the Winter Gardens for people to enjoy.

The Winter Gardens was originally erected in Torquay in Devon and opened in 1881. Great Yarmouth bought it for £4,700 and rebuilt it in 1904 beside the entrance to Wellington Pier​.

The building allowed people to ​ see glimpses of faraway places through an eclectic collection of plants from all corners of the empire and beyond.

By the 1950s roller skating - in particular performers in Skaterscades - saw the venue at the height of its popularity. ​It was subsequently turned into a Tyrolean Biergarten with Josef​ Hofer and his orchestra in residence before comedian and television star Jim Davidson took on the lease of the Wellington Pier and Winter Gardens.

It finally closed its doors in 2008 after more than 100 years as an entertainment attraction.​

In 2014 Great Yarmouth Borough Council took control of the site and began developing ambitious plans to bring it back to life​ by 'Re-imagining the People's Palace'.

Last year The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £12.3 million to the council to deliver its vision for the Winter Gardens. The funding was made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

Combined with £6 million of investment from the Government's UK Towns Fund, the restored building will also feature community spaces, catering and opportunities for leisure, entertainment and learning.