It is reputed to be a building haunted by the ghost of an auctioneer. It has been at the heart of the entertainment scene and life in the city and county for more than a century and today it is the headquarters of Anglia Television.

Eastern Daily Press: Engineers in action in the Sound Control Room. 30/10/1959 Picture: Archant LibraryEngineers in action in the Sound Control Room. 30/10/1959 Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

The old Agricultural Hall at the top of Prince of Wales Road has seen it all – from fat cattle shows to elephant acts and from rodeos to indoor fairs and steam roundabouts.

It was opened by Edward VII when he was Prince of Wales in 1882 and while other grand city buildings have disappeared this one became home to one of the best-loved and most successful television companies in the land.

Not only has it brought us news and views but it has produced world-famous TV shows such as Survival, Tales of the Unexpected, top star-studded drama, plays, films and serials, Sale of the Century, Bygones...not forgetting Romper Room and of course that naughty little BC.

The story of how Anglia came about in 1959 begins when a group of gentlemen, led by Lord Townshend of Raynham Hall and Sir Robert Bignold (Norwich Union) with Aubrey Buxton (later Lord Buxton), Laurence Scott (of the newspaper family not our LSE clan), film maker John Woolf and others got together.

Eastern Daily Press: Studio 'E' at Anglia TV on Magdalen Street. 23/10/1980. Picture: Archant LibraryStudio 'E' at Anglia TV on Magdalen Street. 23/10/1980. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

The bold plan was to open a television station covering East Anglia at a time when, in the late 50s, there was only the BBC and three radio stations.

As Aubrey Buxton said at the time: 'The creation of an independent television centre in Norwich will attract personalities, stars and notabilities from all walks of life into the heart of the area.

'The glamorous pop-singer or the distinguished archaeologist may soon be heard declaring with undisguised relish: 'I'm off to Norwich'.'

And Lord Townshend added: 'East Anglia has taught the world something about agriculture. Perhaps it may teach the world something about television.'

Eastern Daily Press: Anglia TV newsroom in January 1994. Picture: Archant LibraryAnglia TV newsroom in January 1994. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

It certainly did.

Anglia TV went on air on October 27 1959. The Anglia silver knight appeared and our viewing habits changed forever.

The highlight of the first night was a tense play The Violent Years starring Lawrence Harvey and Hildegarde Neff. It went straight into the top 10 national programmes.

It set the trend and in the following months big stars and household names were making their way to Norwich to appear in Anglia productions. The likes of Richard Todd, Kenneth More, Anna Neagle, Jill Bennett and so on.

Eastern Daily Press: Townsend House. Picture: Archant LibraryTownsend House. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

People across the country were tuning in to watch what was coming out of the Anglia studios.

As the years rolled on its reputation spread across the world attracting some of the biggest names in the business – from Joan Collins to Alec Guinness - not forgetting former Norwich schoolboy Sir John Mills.

Programmes such as Survival, filmed by the most talented cameramen and women, around enchanted, enthralled and at times shocked viewers all over the world.

Remember when Cindy Buxton and Annie Price were stranded on South Georgia for a month after the Argentine invasion in 1982?

Eastern Daily Press: Hard at work in the gallery at Anglia TV. 21/10/1959. Picture: Archant LibraryHard at work in the gallery at Anglia TV. 21/10/1959. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Tales of the Unexpected, launched in 1979, was sold to more than 70 countries. The twist-in-the-tail stories by the master of the macabre Roald Dahl attracted a who's who of film and television and were compulsive viewing for millions.

And then there was the 'local boy' who became a much-loved TV star – Dick Joice with his lovely Bygones show. People in the towns and cities also watched Farming Diary. And there were so many more memorable programmes..

Then there was Nicholas Parsons in the smash hit Sale of the Century, Graham Bell, weatherman Michael Hunt, Christine Webber, Helen McDermott, Paul Barnes, Gerry Harrison, Kevin Piper and so many others.

I loved watching them all but I've run out of room so I shall end by saying: Romper, Stomper, Stomper do, tell me, tell me do...

Eastern Daily Press: The Film Cutting Room for Anglia TV. Picture: Archant LibraryThe Film Cutting Room for Anglia TV. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Helen McDermott and Rebecca Jones on set. Picture: Archant LibraryHelen McDermott and Rebecca Jones on set. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: The production control room of Anglia's Magdalen Street studio that reopened this week after a £1.6 million refit. 16/10/1996 Picture: Archant LibraryThe production control room of Anglia's Magdalen Street studio that reopened this week after a £1.6 million refit. 16/10/1996 Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Marjorie Daines, the East of England's first television cook, in the About Anglia studio with Dick Joice. Picture: Archant LibraryMarjorie Daines, the East of England's first television cook, in the About Anglia studio with Dick Joice. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Amid a battery of studio lights is the main set in Anglia's play 'Danger Zone' which is being networked on Tuesday, with Oscar Homolka as the star. The set is part of a BOEING 707 Jet Liner which has been specially assembled in Anglia's biggest studio. The set includes the flight deck, radio compartment and gallery, the cocktail bar and part of the passenger compartment. Picture: Archant LibraryAmid a battery of studio lights is the main set in Anglia's play 'Danger Zone' which is being networked on Tuesday, with Oscar Homolka as the star. The set is part of a BOEING 707 Jet Liner which has been specially assembled in Anglia's biggest studio. The set includes the flight deck, radio compartment and gallery, the cocktail bar and part of the passenger compartment. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Dick Joice and Bruce Forsyth in 1961. Picture: Archant LibraryDick Joice and Bruce Forsyth in 1961. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)