Surrey House

Who

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517 - 1547)

Surrey House was built for Henry Howard by his father, the 3^rd Duke of Norfolk. It was to be a city house for when the Earl visited Norwich.

With the impressive house complete, Newgate Street on which it stood was renamed Surrey Street in his honour.

Henry Howard was unable to make full use of his great residence however. Close friends with Henry VIII's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, the Earl of Surrey was staunchly anti-protestant. It was claimed Henry Howard was intending to seize control as soon as the King should die and gain dominance over the young Edward VI.

The Earl was increasingly seen by the King as a threat. In 1547 he was arrested on treasonous charges and executed.

A talented poet, Henry Howard and his friend Sir Thomas Wyatt were the first English poets to write in sonnet form, later to be used by Shakespeare.