This is what the historic Diss Corn Hall will look like after restoration work to the building is complete.

Eastern Daily Press: Diss Corn Hall, November 1968.Diss Corn Hall, November 1968.

The architectural drawings show the glass-fronted extension to the 162-year-old building which will include an entrance lobby and box office.

The £2 project will see the will also see the hall, Waveney Room and council chambers refurbished to their original Victorian state.

And there will be the addition of a bar, and extension to the gallery and exhibition areas.

The hall will have new lighting and retractable seating to improve the experience for shows.

Since the keys were handed over to contractors in late January the 1970s extension at the back of the Corn Hall has been demolished.

And repairs are starting on the facade and roof to make sure that although modernised the charm and heritage of the Corn Hall is kept.

Corn Hall trustee Brian Falk has said there have been a few surprises as the work has been carried out.

He said: 'We have been wondering about the Victorian heating. We knew the heating stoves were state-of–the-art patented Cundy stoves, but have now unearthed the beautifully built under floor ducts which show how heat air was drawn in and heat distributed.

'We have also found wallpaper in the council chamber which must go back to the days when it was a library. Less helpful was finding Victorian drains running under the building.'

There will be a chance for the public to see the work in progress at a Heritage Open Day in September. Norwich-based Pentaco Construction will arrange tours of the building.

The refurbishment work is part of the Diss Heritage Triangle project, which will improve parts of the town centre.

Pentaco have said they are on track for the hall to reopen at the start of 2017.