Formerly part of Beechlands Farm, the development of Beechlands Park began in the mid-1970s, jointly by Roger Codling of Southrepps and Mr Blythe, a builder from Sheringham. Until it was adopted sometime in the 2000s it was an unmade road – known to the youngest residents as “The
Bumpy Road” – with good reason; as a traffic calming measure it was unrivalled, allowing for much carefree playing in the street – sadly unwise now. The road is a cul-de-sac off Clipped Hedge Lane and terminating at the boundary of land formerly being part of the garden of The Grange (now the
gardens of two recently built houses).
At the time of writing in December 2024 the estate (if that is what it is) consists of 49 dwellings, including 6 in the small side-shoot called Barclay Close. Of these 42 are two-storey houses and 7 are bungalows. There is only one unused plot remaining, so the full complement might in time grow to 51. Despite that, the highest house number is 85: the numbering scheme is a mystery to residents, visitors and courier drivers alike!
Number 28
Number 28 was one of the first houses to be built on Beechlands Park, back when it was a dirt track through a meadow. Local couple John and Carol Willgress bought the plot in 1975, and they slowly built the house themselves, eventually moving in in 1978. The house contains some unusual little details, including bottle bottoms in the flint work at the front of the house (from celebratory family events) and old stone tiles from the derelict West Beckham workhouse in the hearth. John and Carol moved out in 2021 and a new family moved in.
Holly Cottage (number 85)
1968 A parcel of land belonging to Beechlands Farm was bought by Roger Codling for him to develop the small estate which became known as Beechlands Park.
1977 Plot 36 of this development bought from Roger Codling by Arthur and Barbara Curtis, from Newport Wales.
1979 The house, known at this stage as 36 Beechlands Park, was sold to Miss Valerie Carter, from Surrey. She married Neil Smalley in 1980 – the house at this stage was called “Bishy Barny Bee” – the local name for Ladybird.
1986 Gary Derrick and Sheila Jane Archer from Cromer bought the house from Mr and Mrs Smalley.
1987 Michael and Diane Oldfield bought the house, now known as 85 Beechlands Park. They had moved here from Derbyshire, although Diane was a native of Southrepps. By 1990 they had changed the name of the house to Holly Cottage.
1997 approx Conservatory and extension to the kitchen added. This enhanced the downstairs space considerably, at the expense of a portion of the already quite small garden.
2001 Duncan and Sarah Westlake and their two young sons moved from London and bought number 85. Although the name has been retained, it’s not usually given out as our postal address due to the risk of confusion with the several other Holly Cottages in the village!