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The Marble Hall in Surrey House
Surrey House > Link is situated on Surrey Street. It was built from 1900 to 1912 to serve as the headquarters of the Norwich Union Life Insurance Company (renamed Aviva) on a site which had previously been occupied by a house owned by Henry Howard (1517-1547), Earl of Surrey and intended by his father, the 3rd Duke of Norfolk, as a residence when Howard visited Norwich. The street, until then called Newgate Street, was renamed Surrey Street in honour of the Earl, who, however, never used the house and in 1547 was thrown into prison and executed for treason. In the Victorian era the house was used as a school and at the turn of the century.
The new Surrey House was opened in 1904. The architect was George Skipper, who designed what is described as one of the most elegant and opulent Edwardian office buildings in Britain, and one of the most stunning, ornate examples of Edwardian architecture in England; an extraordinary building on neoclassical lines, bringing together Greek and Palladian styles with Masonic symbols reflecting a theme of protection, wellbeing, and insurance. The only part of the building open to visitors is the Marble Hall, comprising 15 different types of marble, some of which were originally intended for Westminster Cathedral. When it was found that not all of the marble could be used it was sold off at a discount, and George Skipper convinced the directors of Norwich Union that they couldn't pass up the opportunity.
The hall's glass-domed ceiling > Link is supported by 40 columns and measures 11 metres in diameter, and its temperature is controlled by an air fountain, an innovative Edwardian system of air conditioning using a structure that looks like a water fountain > Link. Hot air rises through the 'fountain' and is diverted by a pendant made of brass, dispersing the air around the building. The base of the fountain is decorated with marble inlay and lions' heads, and eight pillars of rare Tuscan marble support its top.
Surrey House is one of the Norwich 12, a collection of twelve of the most iconic buildings in Norwich, with architectural styles spanning the Norman, medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern eras.
The new Surrey House was opened in 1904. The architect was George Skipper, who designed what is described as one of the most elegant and opulent Edwardian office buildings in Britain, and one of the most stunning, ornate examples of Edwardian architecture in England; an extraordinary building on neoclassical lines, bringing together Greek and Palladian styles with Masonic symbols reflecting a theme of protection, wellbeing, and insurance. The only part of the building open to visitors is the Marble Hall, comprising 15 different types of marble, some of which were originally intended for Westminster Cathedral. When it was found that not all of the marble could be used it was sold off at a discount, and George Skipper convinced the directors of Norwich Union that they couldn't pass up the opportunity.
The hall's glass-domed ceiling > Link is supported by 40 columns and measures 11 metres in diameter, and its temperature is controlled by an air fountain, an innovative Edwardian system of air conditioning using a structure that looks like a water fountain > Link. Hot air rises through the 'fountain' and is diverted by a pendant made of brass, dispersing the air around the building. The base of the fountain is decorated with marble inlay and lions' heads, and eight pillars of rare Tuscan marble support its top.
Surrey House is one of the Norwich 12, a collection of twelve of the most iconic buildings in Norwich, with architectural styles spanning the Norman, medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern eras.
by Evelyn Simak
Created: Wed, 29 May 2019, Updated: Thu, 30 May 2019
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