The Assembly House

Who

Thomas Ivory (1707-1779)

Thomas Ivory designed the Assembly House. He played an important role in the history of Norwich and its buildings - he designed the Octagon Unitarian Chapel in 1756, and the ‘original' Theatre Royal which opened in 1758. He was also responsible for a number of other houses in the city, including St Helen's House at the Great Hospital, and several in Surrey Street.  

Frank Noverre (19th century)

Frank Noverre bought the west wing of the Assembly House in 1857, and set up a ballroom there. He was a descendent of the Swiss-born dance master Jean-George Noverre (often referred to as the ‘Shakespeare of dance'). Jean-George was the famous dancing master to the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The ballroom of the Assembly House was later converted to the Noverre Cinema. It is known today as the ‘Noverre Suite' and is the largest room in the building.