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Royal Norfolk Suffolk Yacht Club

The Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club is Britain's most easterly Yacht Club and boasts a fully serviced marina and Grade 2* Listed Clubhouse

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.472 / 52°28'19"N

Longitude: 1.7503 / 1°45'1"E

OS Eastings: 654800

OS Northings: 292618

OS Grid: TM548926

Mapcode National: GBR YT9.Z7Q

Mapcode Global: VHN43.945B

Plus Code: 9F43FQC2+Q4

Entry Name: Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

Listing Date: 3 May 1979

Last Amended: 13 June 2022

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1207043

English Heritage Legacy ID: 391354

ID on this website: 101207043

Location: Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR33

County: Suffolk

District: East Suffolk

Electoral Ward/Division: Kirkley

Parish: Lowestoft

Built-Up Area: Lowestoft

Traditional County: Suffolk

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Suffolk

Church of England Parish: Kirkley St Peter and St John

Church of England Diocese: Norwich

Tagged with: Yacht club

The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club is a purpose-built clubhouse built to the designs of George Skipper between 1902 and 1903.

Description

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.

The medieval town of Lowestoft underwent a dramatic expansion over the course of the C19. In the first half of the century, a harbour had been created alongside a man-made waterway connecting it to Lake Lothing. Sir Samuel Morton Peto (1809-1889) recognised the town's potential development for industrial and leisure purposes and as a port for Norwich. Peto employed the architect John Louth Clemence (1822-1911) to assist him in developing a master plan for a resort focused along Lowestoft's South Beach. Peto was a highly successful contractor for railways and public works, remembered particularly as a railway pioneer and identified by Brunel as the largest contractor in the world. By the mid-1860s Peto was entangled in the collapse of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway company which resulted in his bankruptcy. Despite Peto's departure, South Lowestoft flourished and continued to develop as a resort.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club was established on 16 April 1859 and is the most easterly yacht club in Britain. It gained its royal warrant from Edward VII.

The first clubhouse was constructed in 1886 but was soon found to be undersized. George Skipper of Norwich (1856-1948) won the contract to design a new building. Conceived in a free style with Art Nouveau influences it is considered to be an advanced design for its date. The new clubhouse was built in 1902-1903 on land leased from the Great Eastern Railway until 1960.

At some point in the later C20, the curving two-storey verandah facing the south basin of the outer harbour was enlarged to become a glazed sun terrace.

In 2006 the clubhouse underwent a period of restoration.

George Skipper was one of the most significant commercial architects of the late Victorian/Edwardian period. He spent three years as a pupil under John Thomas Lee of Bedford Row, London. In 1879 he set up his own practice in East Dereham before moving to Norwich a year later. At first, Skipper specialised in hospitals and schools, winning several competitions. By the 1890s he was firmly recognised as one of the region’s major architects, especially for his transformative projects in Cromer (the Town Hall, the Grand Hotel, the Hotel Metropole and the Hotel de Paris). He designed many hotels and commercial buildings, including the Royal Arcade in Norwich (1899), listed at Grade II*, and the headquarters of the Norwich Union (1906), listed at Grade I. Skipper has over forty buildings on the List.

Reasons for Listing

The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* for its Art Nouveau style, an advanced design for its date; * as the work of George Skipper, one of the greatest commercial architects of the late Victorian/Early Edwardian era.

Historic interest:

* as a rare example of a purpose-built Edwardian yacht club designed by a major architect.

Group value:

* for its proximity to and strong visual relationship with the Grade II-listed Statue of Triton and Lowestoft War Memorial.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7374597

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

• II Lowestoft War Memorial Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR33
• II Statue of Triton Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR33
• II Port House Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR32
• II Former Post Office Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR32
• II 53 London Road North Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR32
• II Statue of Triton East Suffolk, NR33
• II Raglan Smoke House Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR32
• II 16-28 Victoria Terrace and Eastleigh, 9, 10, and 11 Waterloo Road Kirkley, East Suffolk, NR33

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.

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The Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club

The Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club

www.rnsyc.net

01502 566726

Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0AQ

The Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club: Full Marina Facilities Free Wifi, Diesel Refuelling,Pump Out, Changing/Shower Rooms and Laundry Electricity included in Mooring Fees

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Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

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Description of Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

For over 100 years, the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club has welcomed sailors into their accommodating clubhouse. The club is home to a passionate sailing and racing community. Members enjoy both cruising Europe´s Atlantic coast, as well as the Norfolk and Suffolk rivers. Yachts and craft who dock in the marina are welcome, and will find that the marina is well-sheltered with direct sea access. RNSYC offers training for both powerboating and yachting, with a focus on combining practical and theoretical knowledge. With comfortable accommodations and a vibrant and welcoming sailing community, the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club is worth a visit. Call today for more information!

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Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Sailing

Description of Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Sailing

For over 100 years, Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Sailing has been home to a passionate and active racing and sailing community. Throughout the year, the RNSYCS holds races and regattas that are a delight for members and non-members alike. Sailors will enjoy the easy sea access from the marina, as well as cruising the Norfolk and Suffolk rivers. RNSYCS also offers courses for sailors who wish to acquire their International Certificate of Competence (ICC). To become a part of Lowestoft´s premier sailing community, contact Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Sailing today!

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Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Powerboating

Description of Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Powerboating

Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Powerboating is a passionate and vibrant community of sailors eager to welcome new members. RNSYCP offers trainings for Powerboating Level 1, Level 2 with Tidal Endorsement, Advanced Day and Night Sailing, and Intermediate Navigation. Courses are also available in navigation, first aid, safety, and skippering. The Training Centre is located in the accommodating RNSYC clubhouse. Situated right on the Lowestoft marina, sailors can enjoy direct sea access in a well-sheltered area. To become a part of the passionate racing and sailing community, call Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club Powerboating today for more information!

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Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

Club house, Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, Lowestoft

The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club was founded in 1859, having its headquarters at Norwich, and chiefly devoting its funds to the promotion of yacht-racing on the rivers and broads of the district. In 1886 a small club-house was built at Lowestoft, and the club increased considerably in the number of its members. The present club-house was opened in July, 1903, and is considered one of the finest in England. The membership is about 400.

Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club

Lowestoft – Gateway to the Broad

The town of Lowestoft is the most easterly place in Great Britain and the first place to see the sun-rise.

The town is in two parts, North and South, separated by the Bascule Road Bridge, which has to be raised to allow boats through from the North Sea into Lake Lothing and Oulton Broad.

South Lowestoft has a wonderful sandy beach, two piers, a wide promenade, gardens and amenities. Whereas North Lowestoft has the precinct, which is the main shopping area.

Further north is the historic part of the town, this was the original town with its famous ‘Scores’ which at one time led down to the Beach Village at the time when Lowestoft was a major fishing port.

The town has many churches of various denominations, theatres, cinemas, museums, leisure centres, hotels, public houses and restaurants also a large library.

Travelling by public transport is no problem with the railway station situated near the bridge, also a local and district bus station in the centre of the town.

Things to do while in Lowestoft