In the Second World War Catton Hall was commandeered by the Army and

part of the park was ploughed up for food production, including the cricket pitch.

Army training was carried out in the park.  In 1948 the northern section of the

park and Catton Hall were sold by Desmond Buxton to Norfolk County Council.

Catton Hall was used as a home for the elderly and a special school , Hall School

was built in a portion of the park to the south west of the hall.  The southern

section of the park was retained by the Buxtons, but large areas of the park in

the ownership of Norfolk County Council and the Buxtons have been arable

production.  In 1974 the remaining section of the 18th century ornamental

plantations, centred on Fiddle Wood, were sold by Desmond Buxton to Norfolk

County Council and this was developed as Fiddlewood estate.

Figure 10.  An aerial view of Catton Park in the early 1970s.

Note the top end of the picture showing the park prior

to the development of the Fiddlewood estate.

Click here for a larger view of this photograph.

Page 9 of 9

« Previous page | Return to start »