J H Gurney was a member of the prominent Norwich banking family and he made

significant landscape changes to the Catton estate, particularly to the park.

In 1856 Catton park was again enlarged by a second road diversion to the west

of the Norwich to Catton road¹⁵.  This incorporated some of the 18th century

plantations to the south west and the extent of the park was increased to seventy

four acres.  Considerable new planting took place in the woodlands on the new

periphery of the park to join up the existing plantations, using mainly ornamental

conifers.  This resulted in an extensive belt of planting around the margins of the

park, except to the north east, with an edge planting of shrubs.

A lengthy circuit path system was introduced through the woodland, commencing

at the house leading westwards and returning to the house through the path in

the eastern woodland until, after crossing the park, it joined the north eastern

driveway.  On the western side a branch of the path was made that extended

across the new main road making a circuit in Fiddle wood.  Whereas when the park

had been created in the third quarter of the 18th century the southern views

towards Norwich were considered of importance, seventy years later because of

growth of the city, greater privacy was required.

The importance of the park was emphasised by the creation of a new lodge

entrance and driveway at its southern apex in Oak Lane leading northwards

transecting the length of the park.  The entrance was made at the point where

the old line of the Norwich to Catton road had met Oak Lane and the new driveway

incorporated a short section of the old road before following a route across the

enlarged park.  The lodge cottage was a single story building in classical style

reached from an impressive entrance of ornamental iron gate piers and railings

designed by Barnard, Bishop and Barnard of Norwich¹⁶.

At the same time as the alterations were being made to the park J H Gurney

applied for permission to divert a footpath in an area of meadowland outside the

park, but which was visually linked to it.  The order of 1858¹⁷ allowed him to make

a new path on the northern boundary of Till's pasture to replace the one which had

been visible from the north east section of the park.  By the late 19th century the

next owner Samuel Gurney Buxton had introduced deer in this area and it was

henceforth known as the Deer Park.

Samuel Gurney Buxton had purchased the estate from his cousin after the failure

of the Gurney bank had forced its sale.

The changes to the driveways are indicated on the first edition Ordnance Survey

Map of 1884.  After the creation of the new drive from the southern apex of the

park in the 1850s the original driveway from the south west was abandoned and

replaced by a shorter drive from St Faith's road, and Repton's drive past the

Gothic cottage was eradicated.  This map also shows part of the north western

section of the park used for archery and it is known that in the late 19th century

there was a cricket ground in the park to the north east of the house.

Figure 8. The 1884 1st edition Ordnance Survey shows a new boundary had been created in the park probably of estate railings running north south through the western section of the park.

Figure 9. The 1905 map shows a new boundary had been created in the park probably of estate railings running north south through the western section of the park.

^{_____________________________________________________________________________}

¹⁵ NRO C/Sce 1 Road Order Box 20,3

¹⁶ Listed Building description in Old Catton Conservation Area

¹⁷ NRO C/Sce 2/10/3

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