Norman Culley was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England on 20 October 1880 and studied at Huddersfield Technical College from 1895 to 1897. He also attended Engineering and Art Schools in Huddersfield and attended the summer school at the Royal College of Art in London in 1901. From 1897 to 1901 he was articled to William Cooper (?-1901) and remained with him as his assistant. In 1904 Culley qualified as an architect and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) later that year.
He commenced practice as an architect in Huddersfield in 1908 and from 1904 was a lecturer and instructor in architecture at Huddersfield School of Art. He also lectured on architecture at the School of Art in Halifax from 1906 to 1910. Culley was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1920. He died in Huddersfield, Yorkshire on 2 May 1969.
Zion School, Almondbury; "The Gables", Outlane, Huddersfield ; "Strathallan", Tartown, Huddersfield "Socialist Club", Slaithwaite; "Dalton Orange" Club for technical staff, British Dyes, Ltd. (reconstruction and extension); " Field Head", Longwood; various small detached houses In Huddersfield and district; many mill extensions: Textile Department School (alterations and extensions), Huddersfield; Equitable Bank, Huddersfield; Housing Scheme, Nova Estate, Birstall U.D.C.; Housing Scheme, Jump, Wombwell Urban District Council
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001