The Colman's Story

Colman's of Norwich is much more than a brand name quoting its origins. The firm has been intimately connected with the city and its inhabitants since the early years of the nineteenth century, with the factory in Norwich closing in 2020. The Colman family has exercised a profound influence on the history of Norwich over the last two hundred years—on its economy, on its cultural life, and on its politics. The history of the Colman family is thus the history of Norwich.

They began as manufacturers of mustard, but soon became expert producers of flour, starch, laundry blue, and other household items. By 1900 they were one of the major grocery producers in the country.

The main factory complex, located in east Norwich, the famous Carrow Works, employed tens of thousands of workers. It was often standard practice for successive generations of the same family to work at the factory. This continued as late as the early twenty-first century. From its very foundation, the firm created a range of pioneering innovations for the improvement of the welfare of its employees, founding schools for children, employing on-site factory nurses, and creating a modest pension scheme. These efforts helped to offset the harsh working conditions that characterised factories of the Industrial Revolution. While the working conditions and social principles gradually improved over the twentieth century, the welfare schemes of the firm remained and became somewhat enshrined in the living memory of the citizens.

But the impact of Colman's was by no means confined to Norfolk. By the nineteenth century, its famous mustard was a global brand, its multilingual advertisements earning it fame and success across the world. Both its core product (mustard) and its iconic logo (the bull's head on a mustard-yellow background) were known in many different continents.

And, finally, the Colmans themselves, the family behind the company, played a remarkable role in the fortunes of the city. Ethel Colman was the first female Lord Mayor. Her father and brother were avid art and book collectors. All key family members were active and generous philanthropists. The family made an immense contribution to the cultural heritage of Norwich.

The Colman's Story feature presents carefully collected stories, testimonies and historical accounts—all richly illustrated with archival photographs, images and designs, many never previously published. It also offers a detailed guide to a range of additional resources, from local archives and local community projects to national projects and international databases. A series of links to the Norfolk Museums Collections offers easy access to curated selections of relevant objects and materials.