Watton Sawmills

Just after the war the building firm of Day and Nowak Ltd., came into being, which was started by two ex-servicemen in an old barn behind Whalebelly's butchers shop, now Fennell's. In 1952 the firm moved into their own premises when they converted the former butcher's slaughterhouse into an of­fice and workshop and created a builders yard at the rear of the building, the entrance to which was off the Thetford Road. During the next 33 years their developments included the buildings of Charles Avenue, Churchill Close and Nelson Court estates with some smaller developments and private houses in Watton and the surrounding district. At their peak some 50 houses a year were built, employing 90 to 100 workmen. To cope with the extra business the firm leased the former builders’ yard and offices of Waters and Sons until 1963 when they purchased 8 old cottages on the Thetford Road and converted them into the builders’ offices and the extensive Hardware and General Stores (J.P.N. & Co. Ltd.).

The Watton Sawmills Co. works on the site of the present Fire Station,1919-20.
Standing on extreme left with his young son is George Barton,the founder of the firm.
Standing in front of the timber drug is Mr. C. W. Turgoose
who later became the managing director.
Others in the picture include F. Button, F. Watson, A. Pipe, S,
Fickling, R. Garrod, H. Dennis, W. Disdle and A. Francis.

About eight years later this business was further expanded when they Purchased the former Bull Hotel Bowling Green, which now accommodates their wide range of building and gardening requisites. During the late 1930's Mr. E. Macdoc founded the Bee Apiaries on what old Wattonians cal­ led "Crab Tree Corner". Soon after the last war the modern honey processing building was erected and Miss Jessie Roberts, another well known bee keeper, went into partnership with him until they both retired.

In 1961 Ted Savoury started his architectural design consultancy firm of Edward A. Savory and associates. As the business expanded he decided to start building houses as well as designing them. In 1967 he formed Modus Developments and one of the first residential sites they built was in the grounds of the former Cottage Hospital, The hospital itself was converted into temporary offices un­ til they moved to the former honey processing factory at the junction of the Thetford and Thompson Roads in 1972. These premises were greatly extended and converted into modern offices and given the name of 'Barn Ruche'.

The first big step in the firm's growth was the building of the Vicarage Walk estate of nearly 300 homes. Other sites built by the firm included Garden Close, Wick Farm and over 100 homes at Lovell Gardens, In the council housing sector Modus built 65 homes for the Breckland District Council at Stokes's Avenue 20 weeks ahead of schedule, realising a significant saving to the council in interest terms. At this period the firm were the largest employers of labour in the town.

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