Our history

In 2020, Norman & Son Ltd proudly celebrated an extraordinary milestone—200 years in business. As the oldest shop in Great Yarmouth, the company has spent two centuries serving the local community and beyond with quality furniture, exceptional craftsmanship, and a commitment to customer service that has stood the test of time.

The story began with Simon Norman, who was born in 1795. At the age of 19, he became an apprentice to cabinet maker Mr Fish in 1814. After completing six years of training, Simon set out on his own and, in 1820, established a workshop in Blind Middle Street. Offering services as a cabinet maker, upholsterer, decorator, and undertaker, he laid the foundations for what would become one of Great Yarmouth’s most enduring family businesses.

Following Simon Norman’s death in 1878, his son, Simon Clover Norman, took the reins and expanded the company’s presence. He acquired premises at 14 Market Place, initially occupying the first floor to display and sell furniture before later making it his home. The business flourished, and when Great Yarmouth’s new Town Hall was built, Simon Clover Norman secured the prestigious contract to supply much of its furniture. Crafted entirely by hand, it is believed that some of these original pieces remain in use today.

Simon Clover Norman and his wife Elizabeth raised four sons, with the eldest, Simon William Norman, joining the family business. Continued success led to the purchase of neighbouring premises at 13 Market Place in 1904. Two years later, both properties were rebuilt with an impressive new shopfront designed to showcase the company’s growing furniture collection.

The early 20th century brought both opportunity and challenge. The workshops thrived until the outbreak of the First World War. As many of the men left to serve, Elizabeth Norman, assisted by a lady employee and an elderly French polisher named Mr Monks, kept the business running through the difficult war years. Their dedication ensured the company’s survival during a time of great uncertainty.

With peace restored in 1919, the business gradually recovered and was reorganised as a private company. The next generation soon joined the firm, with Simon William Norman Junior entering the business in 1924, followed by his brother Ernest Edward Norman in 1926. Expansion continued, and in 1928 a large yard at the rear of the premises was transformed into a showroom featuring linoleum, carpets, wallpaper, and paint.

As the decades passed, the Norman family’s commitment to the business remained unwavering. Anthony Norman and Terence Norman joined the company, representing the sixth generation of the family to be involved. In 1980, they assumed overall responsibility for running the business and continued to build on its long-established reputation.

The family tradition continued into the 1990s when Terence’s daughter, Yvonne Norman, joined the firm and took over bookkeeping responsibilities from Anthony’s mother, Maya. A few years later, Yvonne’s younger sister, Jennifer Norman, also became part of the business. Today, both sisters serve as company directors alongside Anthony Norman, who remains actively involved and continues to support the company’s future.

More than 200 years after Simon Norman first opened his workshop, Norman & Son Ltd remains a cornerstone of Great Yarmouth’s retail community. Through six generations of family ownership, the business has weathered wars, economic changes, and shifting consumer trends while maintaining the values of quality, craftsmanship, and personal service that have defined it since 1820.

From a small cabinet-making workshop to Great Yarmouth’s oldest shop, Norman & Son Ltd stands as a remarkable testament to family dedication, resilience, and a proud local heritage that continues to thrive today.