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The Grade II* Listed Bacon's House, on the corner of Colegate and St George Street in Norwich, Norfolk, East Anglia.
Built before 1548 by the then Sheriff of Norwich, Henry Bacon. Originally built as a courtyard house with a great hall on the East Wing, the first floor was installed later.
A wealthy grocer, Henry Bacon trade sign appears on one of the spandrels of the doorway and his initials elsewhere. In 1549 he entertained the Earl of Warwick whom had been sent by the King to put down Kett’s rebellion. By installing the Earl’s badge over the door Henry Bacon made clear his allegiance. The building was lucky to escape the fate of similar ties when many were burnt down. In 1613 another merchant grocer George Cock owned the building and also became Mayor of Norwich.
To Freemasons the house is especially interesting as the earliest Norfolk Lodge was held here, it being regularized by the Grand Master in 1724.
In 1742 Mr Justice Wiggett (William), another Mayor, lived here. About 1800 much panelling was removed by the then owner one Timothy Thompson to his other house – Gt. Witchingham Hall. By 1842 the building was used as a pawnbrokers, and by 1850 a ‘Peoples’ College was set up here for lectures in Mathematics, English Language and Science.
Much alteration took place in 1878 when Ford and Son occupied the building as a shoe factory, reflecting the industrialisation of ‘Norwich – over – the – Water’. Further alterations were made some 10 years later when Howlett and White used it as showroom for their shoe manufacturing. Bacon House has been used this century as a furriers, cardboard box makers and also linen thread manufacturers. In 1925 a serious fire virtually destroyed the West Wing adjoining Calvert Street.
During the 1920’s Mr Thomas Daynes owned the house from which he made children’s Veldtschoen but later made good shoes under the trade name ‘Senyad’, Daynes reversed. In 1963 the City Council attempted to purchase it. A self – confessed ‘stubborn man’ he asked £80,000 which proved too expensive for our City fathers. Eventually it was sold to its current owner Mr D Howard.
During the 1970’s the City Council obtained a 99 year lease, and commenced a comprehensive renovation in 1977/78 for a cost of £83,000. The ground floor was utilized for Norwich Museum storage, the upper floor being leased to the City Club who continue to value the heritage of Henry Bacon’s house.
20736
The Grade II* Listed Bacon's House, on the corner of Colegate and St George Street in Norwich, Norfolk, East Anglia.
Built before 1548 by the then Sheriff of Norwich, Henry Bacon. Originally built as a courtyard house with a great hall on the East Wing, the first floor was installed later.
A wealthy grocer, Henry Bacon trade sign appears on one of the spandrels of the doorway and his initials elsewhere. In 1549 he entertained the Earl of Warwick whom had been sent by the King to put down Kett’s rebellion. By installing the Earl’s badge over the door Henry Bacon made clear his allegiance. The building was lucky to escape the fate of similar ties when many were burnt down. In 1613 another merchant grocer George Cock owned the building and also became Mayor of Norwich.
To Freemasons the house is especially interesting as the earliest Norfolk Lodge was held here, it being regularized by the Grand Master in 1724.
In 1742 Mr Justice Wiggett (William), another Mayor, lived here. About 1800 much panelling was removed by the then owner one Timothy Thompson to his other house – Gt. Witchingham Hall. By 1842 the building was used as a pawnbrokers, and by 1850 a ‘Peoples’ College was set up here for lectures in Mathematics, English Language and Science.
Much alteration took place in 1878 when Ford and Son occupied the building as a shoe factory, reflecting the industrialisation of ‘Norwich – over – the – Water’. Further alterations were made some 10 years later when Howlett and White used it as showroom for their shoe manufacturing. Bacon House has been used this century as a furriers, cardboard box makers and also linen thread manufacturers. In 1925 a serious fire virtually destroyed the West Wing adjoining Calvert Street.
During the 1920’s Mr Thomas Daynes owned the house from which he made children’s Veldtschoen but later made good shoes under the trade name ‘Senyad’, Daynes reversed. In 1963 the City Council attempted to purchase it. A self – confessed ‘stubborn man’ he asked £80,000 which proved too expensive for our City fathers. Eventually it was sold to its current owner Mr D Howard.
During the 1970’s the City Council obtained a 99 year lease, and commenced a comprehensive renovation in 1977/78 for a cost of £83,000. The ground floor was utilized for Norwich Museum storage, the upper floor being leased to the City Club who continue to value the heritage of Henry Bacon’s house.