Elm Hill is one of the oldest and most atmospheric streets in medieval Norwich. The Strangers’ Club offers a friendly welcome to members and their guests alike. Its magnificent oak beamed Augustine Hall is at the heart of its many activities.
Members participate in a variety of interest and sporting groups. Primarily, a gentlemen’s lunch club, there is a range of lunchtime and evening events open to partners and guests. It has a uniquely friendly atmosphere so new members do not remain strangers for long.
Membership
Membership of the Club is open to gentlemen who seek friendship and fellowship including events and group activities with like-minded friends and colleagues.
The club encourages prospective members to visit the club, before being invited to join.
Club Background
The Strangers’ Club was founded in 1927 by six local gentlemen to entertain visitors (Strangers) to the city. The Club remains proud of its civic connections within Norwich and to this day, half of its membership comes from beyond the city boundary.
The history of the building goes back to before 1545. Here is an extract from a Mrs Simmons who lived at 22-26 Elm Hill, now the Strangers Club.
“Norwich was my birthplace and Elm Hill my cradle. My earliest home was an old house, there belonging to my grandfather, at least 300 years old [and] once the residence of Augustine Steward, Mayor of Norwich 1545, and now called the ‘Strangers’ Club’. In the lounge is a 20-light window frame of moulded oak from the adjacent building, occupied in the 15th century by the Norfolk family of Pastons and from here some of the Paston letters were written, headed “at Seynt Peter of Hungate” 1479. According to tradition, Queen Elizabeth I looked through this window when visiting the city in 1578……… Be that as it may, I loved the old house, where I spent a very happy childhood. I loved to look from the open window down upon the hill with its great elm tree in the middle of the plain and shading the parish pump (now gone). I can only picture it in bright sunshine, as there were to me few dark clouds in those early days.”
Club Events
The Strangers’ Club hosts many events. Lunchtime talks, partners’ lunches and formal dinners are always popular. Summer gatherings include barbeques, garden parties and cricket matches. In the winter there’s a day at the races. Look at our events page to see the range today.
Club Hire
Members of the Strangers’ Club often use the Club premises in Elm Hill as a place to work or for entertaining guests when they need to be in the City. The wonderful premises in Elm Hill are also available for private hire for meetings, lunches, dinners, barbeques and larger events such as wedding receptions and family anniversary events. Contact the Club Steward for further details.
