Catton can be found 3 miles north of the city
on high ground and, like Costessey, is split into two: Old
and New. Archaeological finds suggest Old Catton
was inhabited as far back as the Stone Age, with further finds
unearthing Bronze Age and Roman objects.
During the prosperous wool-manufacturing era, the wealthy
merchants were moving from the city in search of grander properties
to areas such as Catton. One such person
was Jeremiah Ives, twice Mayor of Norwich
and wealthy wool merchant. Guided by the architect William
Wilkins, he built Catton Hall in 1780 and
it was later landscaped, following designs by Humphrey Repton.
St Margaret’s Church has been at the heart of Catton
since the 14th century, although parts date from the 19th
century when considerable building work was undertaken. It
wasn’t until 1979 that St Margaret’s gained a
proper church hall, thanks to the fundraising of local groups
and individuals.
Like all parts of Norwich,
Catton’s population has grown considerably
over the years. In 1911 it was recorded as 634 but, by 1991,
the population had increased steeply to around 5,700.
Catton has recreation grounds for sports
activities, clubs and societies such as Guides, Mothers’
Union, Horticultural Club and Women’s Institute for
those who want to partake.
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