Catton, Norfolk

Old Catton
Church of St. Margaret, Old Catton, typical of Norfolk round tower designs.
Old Catton Old Catton shown within Norfolk
Area	2.33 km2 (0.90 sq mi)
Population	6,108 (2011)
• Density	2,621/km2 (6,790/sq mi)
OS grid reference	TG234121
Civil parish	Old Catton
District	Broadland
Shire county	Norfolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NORWICH
Postcode district	NR6
Police	Norfolk
Fire	Norfolk
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Norwich North
List of places UK England Norfolk 52°39′40″N 1°18′08″E / 52.6611°N 1.3023°E / 52.6611; 1.3023Coordinates: 52°39′40″N 1°18′08″E / 52.6611°N 1.3023°E / 52.6611; 1.3023

Old Catton is a suburban village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk which lies 2 miles (3.2 km) to the north-east of central Norwich. The parish is bounded by the Norwich International Airport at Hellesdon to the west and Sprowston to the east. The northern boundary is with the village of Spixworth while the A1042 road forms the southern boundary. It covers an area of 2.33 km² (0.90 sq mi) and had a population of 5,954 in 2,512 households at the 2001 census, increasing to a population of 6,108 in 2,666 households at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Broadland. The village is twinned with the French commune of Lavaré.

The name of Catton most likely means farmstead (or Tun) of a man called Catta, a local tribal leader. Another possible explanation was the presence of wild cats in the area – now depicted on the village sign. The settlement was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Until recent times Catton was an agricultural village but following the late 18th and 19th century development of the Catton Park estate several wealthy Norwich families including the Gurneys, Jewsons, Buxtons, Lindleys, Norman and the Tilletts built their houses here.

The conservation area was designated in 1986 and encompasses three important open spaces: Catton Park, Buttercup Meadow, the War Memorial deer park and the historical core of the village: Church Street, Spixworth Road and George Hill. Contained within this area are several listed buildings, significant non– listed buildings, protected trees and parkland.