JURNET’S HOUSE NORWICH
Some of our newer members may not be aware of this project. Jurnet’s House which is in King Street, in Norwich is a 12th century house lived in by Jurnet who was a 12th century merchant and money lender and supposed to be one of the richest men in the country at that period.
There is a very long history of this house and the surrounding buildings known as Wensum Lodge and used as an Adult Education centre for many years.
The Norfolk County Council own Wensum Lodge and Jurnet’s House is owned by Norwich City Council, the County Council are trying to sell Wensum Lodge but the City Council are willing to see Jurnet’s House preserved and used as in point 2 below. A group from UEA and the two Norwich communities are involved.
July 2024: Update from the Jurnet’s House Group
A year has passed since the Group first met. At this first anniversary we are pleased to tell you that since we reported in February promising progress has been made.
In April Jurnet’s House was granted charitable status as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) with the following objects:
1. To preserve for public benefit the building known as Jurnet’s House situated at King Street Norwich (also known as ‘The Music House’); and
2. To advance public education in the Jewish religion, history and culture, including by the provision or assistance in the provision of facilities for this with special reference to the City of Norwich.
We have obtained a grant of £10,000 from Norwich Consolidated Charities and a further grant of £11,580 from the Architectural Heritage Fund, to help progress plans for the building, and the Norwich Hebrew Congregation have donated £5,000 from the NHLF grant received last year: a small but promising beginning, and we are continuing with ongoing fundraising.
At the end of May a meeting took place with the Grants Officer and the Chair of the NHLF (National Heritage Lottery Fund) as well as ourselves and representatives from the Norwich City Council, and HE (Historic England) where the following decisions were made:
1. In November the building will go onto the national register of buildings at risk.
2. The lead for the restoration of the building will be taken by Norwich City Council, who will make any applications for funding. It is hoped that funds will be available in due course from both NHLF and HE. Jurnet’s House CIO to continue to play an important part in working with the City Council and keeping up the momentum.
3. Immediate action needs to be taken to deal with water ingress and to increase ventilation.
4. A conservation architect to be involved with preparation of a buildings analysis report, preceded by dendrochronological (tree-ring dating) analysis. Once the buildings analysis report is available we will be able to start formulating ideas of how the building will be used once restored.
Those involved in the Jurnet House Group are: Oren Margolis and Ben Little (UEA and Jewish communities), Johanna Foster (UEA), Marian Prinsley and Miriam Barnett (Jewish communities).
