Much material came forward as a result of an initial appeal in the Derek James column in the Eastern Evening News. Building on this, the Society sought further material through interviews with long term residents. This culminated, as a Millennium project in 2000, with the publication of a book on history of the village in the 20th Century. We have subsequently published a further book, Historic Houses of Old Catton, and are preparing papers on other aspects of Old Catton. From time to time we contribute a display of historic photographs at parish events.
In the mid 1990s the Society became increasingly concerned to ensure that the village history should be recorded on a systematic basis for the benefit of future generations. Today, the Society holds an extensive archive of material relating to Old Catton. This archive includes:
- Over 750 catalogued photographs of village scenes and life, old and new.
- A "Domesday" photographic record of the entire village in 2000.
- Miscellaneous press cuttings.
- Dr Goulty's transcription of the Parish Registers between 1688 and 1841.
- Transcriptions of the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses.
- Ordnance Survey scale maps of various dates from 1844.
- A photographic record of memorials in the original churchyard of St Margaret's church
For the contents of the archive, see here
The archive is available for researchers of family or local history. It can be inspected by appointment with the Old Catton Society Archivist. There is a charge of £3 per access visit.