Record Details
| NHER Number: | 704 |
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| Type of record: | Building |
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| Name: | Samson and Hercules House, Tombland |
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Summary
A former house, built by Christopher Jay in 1657 when he was mayor of Norwich.
It contains several oak panelled rooms and has a characteristic porch with figures of Samson and Hercules supporting it. In 1789 the statues were moved inside and replaced at the front in 1890. The Hercules is definitely a replica of 1890 and the original, quite different, is lost.
In 1930 the YMCA built a swimming pool inside the front block. In 1952 after a fire the building was returned to its original appearance after the mock Tudor alterations of 1890. After many years in use as a nightclub, it is understood that the building has been purchased by a developer for conversion into a ground floor restaurant with flats above.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 23291 08863 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG20NW |
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| Parish: | NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK |
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Full description
Was Scheduled Ancient Monument 114; descheduled 31 July 1986.
The house was built by Christopher Jay in 1657 when he was mayor of Norwich.
It contains several oak panelled rooms and has a characteristic porch with figures of Samson and Hercules supporting it. It is in fair condition.
Building delisted; protected only by conservation area legislation.
In use as a night club.
The statues were moved to an interior courtyard in the 19th century and later replaced outside. 'Hercules' is suggested to be a 19th century replica. Both statues were removed from the building in 1993 for conservation; proposed replacement by fibreglass copies.
E. Rose (NLA), 8 July 1993.
1970s or 1980s. Norwich Survey.
See (S1) in file, includes sale particulars of 1934 (S17).
July 1986. Descheduled.
Information from (S18).
H. Mellor (HES), 6 June 2018.
Articles [4 September 1994 and 31 January 2001] missing from file [J Yates, 12 July 2010].
T.E. Miller (NLA), 25 January 2006.
It was in fact in 1789 that the statues were moved inside and replaced at the front in 1890.
The Hercules is definitely of 1890 and the original, quite different, is lost.
In 1930 the YMCA built a swimming pool inside the front block. In 1952 after a fire the building was returned to its original appearance after the mock Tudor alterations of 1890.
Information from C. Proudlove (NCM).
E. Rose (NLA), 9 June 1994.
According to (S2) some of the interior panelling came from Flixton Hall, Suffolk and was installed in 1953 in what later became the Flixton Room.
E. Rose (NLA), 1 February 2001.
May 2004. Desk-based Assessment.
See report (S3) in file.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 23 June 2005.
August 2006.
(S4) reports that this building has been purchased by a developer for conversion into a ground floor restaurant with flats above.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 22 August 2006.
(S5) notes that in 1864 Dr Pusey, the famous theologian and Tractarian, rented the building which was at that time a house. The next year it became the Sisterhood of Mount Calvary, part of Father Ignatius's Third Order (see NHER 44635) but this lasted less than a year. This does however add to the importance of the building due to the importance of Ignatius in 19th century religious history.
E. Rose (NLA), 15 December 2006.
Further press cuttings (S6) to (S13) in file.
August 2007. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation prior to proposed redevelopment.
See NHER 51761 and report (S14) for further information.
D. Holburn (HES), 19 September 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 4 February 2017.
October-November 2007. Excavation.
Work undertaken during redevelopment of site.
See NHER 51761 and assessment report (S15) for further information.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 February 2017.
June 2011. Newspaper Article.
Samson and Hercules House to be auctioned by city-based chartered sureveyors Arnolds.
See (S16) for further details.
D. Lefeuvre (HES), 8 August 2011.
Monument Types
- HOUSE (17th Century to 21st Century - 1657 AD to 2100 AD)
- SWIMMING POOL (Early 20th Century to 21st Century - 1930 AD to 2100 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF14775. |
| --- | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 20 NW 249. |
| --- | Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 292-293. |
| --- | Publication: Ninham, H. and Ewing, W.C. 1845. The Remnants of Antiquity in Norwich. Pl 15. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| --- | Slide: Various. Slide. |
| <S1> | Unpublished Document: Carter, A.. Building Survey. |
| <S2> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2001. Eastern Daily Press. 31 January. |
| <S3> | Unpublished Contractor Report: AC Archaeology. 2004. The Ikon Nightclub, Tombland, Norwich. Historic Building and Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology. 2304/2/0. |
| <S4> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2006. Iconic dance hall is set for a new life. 17 August. |
| <S5> | Publication: Calder-Marshall, A.. 1962. The Enthusiast. pp 93, 103, 126. |
| <S6> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1992. [Articles and a letter to the editor on the proposed restoration and relocation to a museum of the statues of Samson and Hercules]. |
| <S7> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1993. Samson declared unfit. 8 July. |
| <S8> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1994. Musclemen on way back. 4 September. |
| <S9> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1995-1999. [Articles and letters to the editors regarding the return of the replica statues of Samson and Hercules]. |
| <S10> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. Model could hold key to giant restoration project. 6 February. |
| <S11> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. Formidable guardians of a fine historic house. 20 November. |
| <S12> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1998. Samson the golden years. 3 April. |
| <S13> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2003. End of the line looms for dance hall loved by city generations.. 23 October. |
| <S14> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Trimble, G. 2007. An Archaeological Evaluation at Samson and Hercules House, Tombland, Norwich. NAU Archaeology. 1317. |
| <S15> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Ames, J. 2008. An Archaeological Excavation at Samson and Hercules House, Tombland, Norwich. Assessment Report and Updated Project Design. NAU Archaeology. 1681a. |
| <S16> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2011. Landmark buildings are going under hammer. 14 June. |
| <S17> | Unpublished Document: [Unknown]. 1934. Norwich. Sale of 'Samson & Hercules House', Tombland, Norwich, at the Royal Hotel, Norwich on Friday 11 May 1934. |
| <S18> | Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Scheduling Notification. Notification. DNF14775. |
Related records
| 51761 | Parent of: Late Saxon or medieval burial, medieval and post medieval pits and finds beneath Samson and Hercules House (Monument) |
| Site 1370 | Parent of: Samson and Hercules House, Tombland (Monument) |
| Mon 795 | Parent of: Samson and Hercules House, Tombland (Monument) |
| Mon 1386 | Parent of: Waggon and Horses Lane / Tombland / Tombland Alley (Monument) |
| Mon 804 | Part of: Tombland (Monument) |
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