Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

A purpose-built yacht club built to the designs of George Skipper between 1902 and 1903.

MATERIALS: The clubhouse is constructed of brick covered in whitewashed render. The principal roofs are covered in plain tiles with some areas of flat asphalt roofing.

PLAN: The building has an L-shaped or butterfly plan with later extensions to the north-west.

DESCRIPTION: The building has a central square block of three storeys with two-storey wings projecting to the north-east and south-east. The inner angle of this L-shaped plan has an engaged round tower, while the outer angle has a square rooftop observation room, glazed, with a copper dome on top. There are several extensions to the north-east, one of which has a pitched roof and gabled ends.

The south front is composed of a three-storey, three-bay square block with the observation room at the top. In the centre is a low entrance porch with a panelled and glazed door flanked by a tri-partite round-headed window on each side. The windows above are casements of varying design. At the first floor is a sculptural panel of Cosseyware terracotta depicting a sailing ship in high relief. The observation room is glazed all around under a copper dome. To the right is a two-storey wing under a half-hipped roof with two tri-partite round-headed windows to the ground floor and three windows to the first floor: two round-headed casements with balconies and, to the left, a canted oriel.

The east elevation is lit through a large multi-pane Diocletian window. The upper storey through three circular windows with casements. The hip of the roof is pierced by a triangular gablet containing a sash window with glazing bars.

The north side has, between the arms of the L, a curved and glazed single-storey bow-shaped extension. Behind it rises the three-storey engaged round tower with casements to the first floor and a band of brick-dressed windows at the second floor, above which is another Cosseyware panel showing the crest of the Prince of Wales. The hipped northern arm of the L has casements with glazing bars.

INTERIOR: The entrance leads into a square central hall partly top-lit from an open ceiling well into the first floor. A concave wall separates the hall from the bar to the north-east, which is entered through bowed double doors with glazing. The restaurant in the north-west corner has double muntin doors with leaded and glazed upper panels and a segmental overlight. The closed-string staircase has tall square newels tapering above the handrail and terminating in saucer finials, in a style being developed at the time by Charles Voysey. The first floor has an octagonal open well looking into the ground-floor hall and is protected by a reeded balustrade. The doors to the two principal rooms are of muntin type with stained glass panels. The north room also has a fireplace with a three-panel overmantel.