Manual Ref* NFnrNOR142 Show 4 images 55
Title*

Architectural decoration on Bewick House (now Britannia Chambers)
County Norfolk   District Council Norwich City Council 
Civil Parish or equivalent Norwich City Council  Town/Village* Norwich 
Road Thorpe Road 
Precise Location No 22 
OS Grid Ref TG239084  Postcode NR1 
Previous location(s)  
Setting On building  Access Public 
Artist/Maker Role Qualifier
A.F. Scott and sons  Architect(s)   
Guntons of Costessey  Ceramicist(s)   

Commissioned by

 Richard Dawson, bookmaker 

Design & Constrn period

 1894 

Date of installing

  

Exact date of unveiling

  

Category
Abstract Animal Architectural
Commercial Commemorative Composite
Free Functional Funerary
Heraldic Military Natural
Non-Commemorative Performance Portable
Religious Roadside, Wayside Sculptural
Temporary, Mobile Other  

Object Type
Building Clock Tower Architectural
Coat of Arms Cross Fountain
Landscape Marker Medallion
Mural Panel Readymade
Relief Shaft Sculpture
Statue Street Furniture War Memorial
Other Object Sub Type: Architectural sculpture

Subject Type
Allegorical Mythological Pictorial
Figurative Non-figurative Portrait
Still-life Symbolic Other

Subject Sub Type
Bust Equestrian Full-length
Group Head Reclining
Seated Standing Torso
Part Material Dimension
Pediment over door and over 1st floor window  Costessey ware  150 cms W. 
Panels flanking doorway  Costessey ware  30 cms W by 160cms H 
Panels over windows  Costessey ware  100 cms long 

Work is
Extant Not Sited Lost

Owner/Custodian

 Norfolk Wildlife Trust 

Listing status
Grade I Grade II* Grade II Don't Know Not Listed

Surface Condition
Corrosion, Deterioration Accretions
Bird Guano Abrasions, cracks, splits
Biological growth Spalling, crumbling
Metallic staining Previous treatments
Other  
Detail: Some dirt

Structural Condition
Armature exposed Broken or missing parts
Replaced parts Loose elements
Cracks, splits, breaks, holes Spalling, crumbling
Water collection Other
Detail: Minor cracks in panels over windows, plant growing out of panel to right of door

Vandalism
Graffiti Structural damage Surface Damage
Detail:

Overall condition
Good Fair Poor

Risk
No Known Risk At Risk Immediate
Signatures/Marks  
Inscriptions Date of 1894 in keystone over main door 

Description (physical)

 The house is a riot of marine inspired Costessey ware. The panel above the doorway is decorated with symmetrical winged putti and plants in place of legs. Candelabra inspired panels at sides of the doors. The other panels are variations on the marine putti theme but without wings - except above the central window. The decorative acanthus panels are continued to the right on top of the wall adjoining the house 

Description (iconographical)

 The house - known as ‘mugs hall’ in tribute to its owner's profession - stands to one side of the railway station. Its facade is richly decorated with motifs inspired by the grotesque decoration of the Golden House of Nero in Rome in the spirit of Perugino's ceiling of the Cambio at Perugia of 1500. The choice of motifs for the house of bookmaker may have been in tribute to the fact that the station had originally connected Norwich with Great Yarmouth 

Photographs

 Date taken:  24/2/2006
Date logged: 

Photographed by:
Sarah Cocke

On Site Inspection

 Date:  19/4/2006

Inspected by:
Richard Cocke

Sources and References

 BOE, I, 342 Dacos, Nicole, La Découverte de la Domus Aurea et la Formation des Grotesques à la Renaissance, London, 1969, pp. 74-75 and Fig 119 

Database

 Date entered:  28/4/2006

Data inputter:
Richard Cocke