Norwich General Assurance Company
Norwich General Assurance Company was established by Thomas Bignold in November 1792 to insure against loss by fire. The company was also known as the Norwich Assurance Company and, by 1801, as the Norwich General Insurance Company.
Company History
Norwich General Assurance policy header
Norwich General Assurance symbol
Norwich General Assurance fire mark
In 1797, the company moved from Gentleman's Walk to new premises at St Giles. Company founder, Thomas Bignold, remained at Gentleman's Walk and established the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society.
A general meeting held on November 19 1821 authorised the directors to sell and divide among the proprietors any part of the capital stock of the company they may think advisable and
"to negotiate with the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society to transfer the present existing risks to that office, and if the terms should be deemed satisfactory that the Directors be authorized to carry the same into Execution and to close the act of this Partnership with as little delay as it be practicable".
As a consequence, Norwich General was acquired by Norwich Union Fire, with both companies re-organising and forming a new company that kept the Norwich Union name but the Norwich General organisational structures.
Key dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1792 | The Norwich General Assurance Company is established |
| 1797 | Thomas Bignold establishes the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society |
| 1821 | Norwich General is acquired by Norwich Union Fire |
Subsidiaries and constituents*
| Year | Company name |
|---|---|
| 1808 - 1811 | Anchor Fire Office |
* Please note the first date given is the date of the establishment of the company and the second date is the date the company was acquired or became a subsidiary. Where only one date is given the company was established as a subsidiary of the parent company. Where one date is preceded by a hyphen the date of the establishment of the company is not known.
Head office premises
| Year | Address |
|---|---|
| 1792 - 1797 | Gentleman's Walk, Norwich (now 18 Market Place) |
| 1797 - 1821 | St Giles, Norwich |
Staff and officials
Secretary
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1792 - 1797 | Thomas Bignold |
| 1797 - 1821 | Adam Taylor |
Directors (1792)
- Mayor John Harvey Esq (as chairman)
- J G Basely
- Robert Partridge
- James Hudson
- William Herring
- B Gurbey
- William Worth
- Joseph Gurney
- John Gurney
- John Barnard
- Edward Rigby
- Edward Barrow
- T G Ewen
- William Foster
- John Browne
Branches and agencies (1793)
- Cromer - B Rust
Branches and agencies (1798)
- Aylsham - J Ellis
- Acle - R Morris
- Attleborough - W Parson and R Francis
- Bungay - S Prentice
- Beccles - J B Storey
- Burnham and Wells - E Jickling
- Cley - R Anthony
- Diss - B Fincham
- Docking - W Dunn
- Dereham - W Goulty and Jonathan Ward
- Downham - William Townsend
- Fakenham - Mrs Cole
- Gasthorpe - N Fowell
- Gorleston - C Beart
- Hingham - C Bringloe
- Harleston - C Sewell
- Halesworth - H Knevett
- Holt - John Davy
- Ludham - George Rust
- Loddon - John Gibbs
- Lynn - J Nainby
- Long Stratton - J Aldis
- N. Lopham - S Porter
- N. Elmham - N A Cowper
- North Walsham - J Ransome
- Reepham - G Wymer
- Swaffham - P Sewell
- Stalham - O Silcock
- Thetford - J B Faux
- Wisbeach - J Leach
- Watton - Thomas Young
- Walsingham - R Plummer
- Wereham - J Houchen
- Woodbridge - J Rickett
- Wymondham - J Syder
- Yarmouth - James Sayers
In the archive
The Aviva archive contains records relating to the running of the Norwich General Assurance Company between 1792 and 1822. The collection includes a general minute book, policies and fire marks.
