It has had an influential presence in Norwich for more than 220 years and has employed tens of thousands of people.
And to celebrate its history, insurance giant Aviva is revealing its secrets through a new public interactive digital display on a giant screen at its iconic Marble Hall base in Norwich city centre from today.
The kiosk features more than 1,000 pictures, 750 facts plus videos from some of the 370 companies involved in the history of the insurance firm which now employs 27,000 people worldwide.
Archivist Anna Stone spent four months researching the documents and old footage from newspapers and the company's extensive archive below the Marble Hall on Surrey Street.
Mrs Stone, who has worked for Aviva since 2000, said: 'This is like an amazing family tree. We are trying to encapsulate 320 years of Aviva's history. It is no mean feat. It is really interesting.
'The most fun part of researching the project was researching and discovering new things. You never know what you will find.'
Aviva can trace its heritage back to 1696 when the Hand-in-Hand mutual society - once the world's oldest existing fire insurance office - was founded in a London coffee house.
Aviva's presence in Norwich began in November 1792 after wine merchant and banker Thomas Bignold set up the Norwich General Assurance Company on Gentleman's Walk to insure against loss by fire.
Norwich Union - one of the principal companies that eventually merged to create Aviva in 2009 - was founded as the Norwich Union Society in 1797.
It moved to a purpose-built head office in 1905 - Surrey House on Surrey Street - which houses the Marble Hall.
During the 1800s about 30 staff worked for the insurance firm in Norwich and it now employs 5,000 people in the city.
Mrs Stone added: 'Most people you speak to in Norwich have either worked for Aviva or know someone who has worked for Aviva. Norwich is an important part of Aviva.'
The touch screen heritage display, depicted as an expanding solar system, can be viewed in the Marble Hall for free 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.
AVIVA'S IMPRESSIVE HISTORY
From providing a personal accident policy to a young Winston Churchill in 1896 to insuring the doomed Titanic liner in 1912 and paying out more than £1m for the 1963 Great Train Robbery - insurance firm Aviva has been involved in a variety of claims.
Some 370 companies have existed and amalgamated over the past 320 years to eventually create Aviva in 2009.
The firm has been instrumental in a variety of claims big and small from insuring breweries, boilers, glass window panes, vehicles and buildings damaged by fire.
It has its roots in the 17th century Hand-in-Hand mutual society which was made up of one man in an office with a limited number of office clerks.
Aviva now operates in 16 countries including Poland, Turkey, Italy, Canada, Singapore, China, Vietnam and India.
Its headquarters are now in London but Aviva archivist Anna Stone said the firm has strong Norwich roots.
To view a digital timeline of Aviva's history visit www.heritage.aviva.com/timeline
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here