Imagine walking around a Virtual Reality Museum of Norfolk, one in which you didn’t just see the exhibits, but you could also touch, smell and hear them. Imagine being able to take part in any event in Norfolk history, from Kett’s Rebellion to the day that Norwich City first won promotion to the top division. Imagine putting yourself in any scene from the Norfolk countryside – what might it be?

A cold misty morning on the salt marshes near Morston with the smell of the sea in your nostrils or in the animal pens at Costessey during the annual Royal Norfolk Show?

Museums are vital for learning about our history, our sense of place and indeed about ourselves, and that’s why over the coming months we’re going to want your help.

As you’ll see from the floorplan, our Virtual Reality Museum will have two storeys. It’s currently empty. But you can help us fill it.

As we walk into the entrance hall there will be a plinth for our greatest icon.

Who might that be? Nelson might be the definitive legend for many, but what about Henry Bloggs or Edith Cavell? Is their case stronger?

From the entrance hall we move into a room that houses examples of the best Norfolk brands.

And after that a gallery displaying photographs and paintings of the county’s most beautiful and dramatic scenes. Wandering on, we encounter replica models of our best buildings, both contemporary and from history, and our worst. What might our architectural eyesores include? The ground floor is completed with a room dedicated to historical artefacts and cultural icons.

Walking upstairs we enter a room that we might call ‘Eau de Norfolk’, with bottles holding fragrances that evoke county memories – perhaps it’s back to the Royal Norfolk Show animal pens!

In the next two rooms are where the museum takes us into the realms of Virtual Reality. First you enter a countryside simulator, which allows you to stand in your favourite scene, in the weather of your choice.

After strolling through a poppy or lavender field on a fine summer’s day or perhaps braving your way through a gale on Cromer seafront, you then find yourself in a hologrammatic re-enactment of any event in Norfolk history that you’d like the opportunity to have been a part of.

After you’ve left Nelson’s return to Yarmouth after the battle of Copenhagen or perhaps Boadicea’s Iceni Revolt against the Roman invaders, you’ll be able to stroke the animals in the petting zoo. No Virtual Reality here – only the real thing. So which animals best characterise the county?

Finally, we head back downstairs for well-earned refreshments in the museum restaurant. All the dishes are made from local produce, so what might they be? It’s up to you... this is one restaurant where you can order off-menu every time.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes our tour of the Virtual Reality Museum of Norfolk. We hope you enjoy your visit – whatever you decide to see.