History of The City Club

The City Club is hosted at Bacon House, a historic grade II-listed building with a rich tapestry of stories dating back to 1548. Constructed by Henry Bacon, The Sherriff of Norwich, this architectural gem has witnessed centuries of transformation and played a diverse range of roles.

Originally a courtyard house, Bacon House featured a magnificent great hall in the east wing, later augmented with the addition of a first floor. The staircase, once renowned in Norwich, sadly no longer graces the premises. Henry Bacon, a prosperous grocer, left his mark with a trade sign on the doorway spandrel and his initials scattered throughout the building.

In 1549, Bacon hosted the Earl of Warwick during the suppression of Kett's Rebellion, signaling his allegiance by displaying the Earl's badge over the door. This strategic move spared Bacon House from the fate of other structures consumed by fire. Bacon continued to reside here during his mayoralties in 1557 and 1566, commemorated by a plaque on the south side.

Throughout the centuries, Bacon House changed hands, hosting notable figures such as George Cocke, another merchant grocer and Mayor of Norwich, and William Wiggett, also a Mayor. The house even served as the earliest Norfolk Lodge for Freemasons, officially established in 1724.

In the 1800s, Timothy Thompson removed much of the original panelling, relocating it to Great Witchingham Hall. The building subsequently underwent various transformations, from a pawnbroker to a People's College offering lectures in mathematics, English, and science.

In 1878, Ford & Son repurposed Bacon House as a shoe factory, reflecting the industrialization of Norwich. The building continued to evolve, housing a showroom for Howlett & White's locally-made shoes. Thomas Daynes, during the 1920s, produced children's Veldtschoen and later shoes under the name Senyad.

Despite a fire in 1925 and diverse uses during World War II, Bacon House endured. In 1966, a southern section became a 24-hour café, and in 1967, the Pan Player's used it as a proscenium theatre. Ownership passed to Clara and Kathleen (Kay) Daynes, eventually leading to a 99-year lease granted to Norwich City Council in the 1970s.

Renovation by the council in 1977 restored Bacon House's grandeur at a cost of £83,000. Today, the first floor is home to The City Club, while the ground floor serves as storage for the Norfolk Museum Service.

In 2020, a healthcare trust acquired the freehold, ensuring the preservation of Bacon House's heritage. The council's tenancy with The City Club remained unaffected, and this historic site continues to thrive, a testament to the enduring legacy of Henry Bacon.