Mile Cross Estate, Norwich

Mile Cross Estate, Norwich is a council estate in Norwich, England. The population of the Mile Cross Ward in Norwich at the 2011 census was 10,655.

The roughly triangular shaped estate is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north-west of the city centre is bounded to the east and west by Aylsham Road and Drayton Road respectively and Boundary Road and Mile Cross Lane to the north. Mile Cross Road bisects the estate from north to south.

Mile Cross was one of the first housing estates in Norwich, and was built in the 1920s as part of the Homes fit for heroes scheme. It was planned on garden suburb principles by town planner Professor Adshead and involved four prominent local architects; Stanley Wearing, A F Scott, George Skipper and S J Livock. The estate was developed as a community and included infrastructure such as schools, churches, shops, pubs, community centres, allotments and public open spaces.

On 2 January 1979 the majority of the estate was designated a conservation area covering 163 acres (66 ha). The conservation area can be split into four distinct areas: Sub area A is the first phase of the development and includes Losinga Crescent and Suckling Avenue and is characterised by classically styled houses based on Georgian designs. Sub area B is the second phase and includes Margaret Paston Avenue and Oxnead Road. A greater variety of materials such as tile-hanging and mock-timber framing were used. Sub area C was extended from the estate to include four significant buildings; St Catherine's church, church hall, vicarage and the adjacent Mile Cross library. Sub areas D also includes several areas of new housing not of historic interest.

St. Catherine's Church was built in 1933–35 by architects Caroe and Robinson. Described as a fusion of Romanesque and modern styles; its powerful interior; its impressive detailing; and its overall monumentality is finished in buff-brown and grey-purple bricks and was listed Grade II* in 2006. The adjacent church hall has been listed Grade II and the vicarage is of local interest. Close by and also of note is the Mile Cross library. At three corners of the estate are three landmark buildings. The former Galley Hill public house (currently (2013) trading as a hair and beauty salon) and the Boundary public house. Located on the junction of Mile Cross Road and Drayton Road are the shopping parades finished in red brick and pantiles.

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