James Herbert Norris was born in Godalming, Surrey, England in 1871. He was articled to Samuel Welman and Thomas Joseph Street of Welman & Street in 1886 and remained with them as their assistant for a further year. He commenced practice as an architect in 1897 and later that year was appointed Borough Surveyor of Godalming. During the 1920s he was in partnership with Lawrence Henry Shattock (1892-1977) as Norris & Shattock.
Norris was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911. His address was given as 51, High Street. Guildford; and 16, Church Street, Godalming in 1923 and 1926; 14, Victoria Street, Westminster, London in 1926.; and Ramsden Croft, Ramsden Road, Godalming, Surrey where he died on 21 September 1928.
Municipal Buildings, Godalming; additions to " Ockham", Sussex, for Sir S. Boyle, Bart.; residences at Oakleigh Park, Orpington, Guildford, Godalming, Haslemere, etc.; about 200 Government houses (Sunbury-on-Thames, Guildford and Godalming). In association with L. H. Shattock.: — Additions to Guildford Institution ; shop premises, Guildford; St. Edmund's Hall, Godalming; residences at Sheen, Finchley, Guildford, Godalming, etc.; formation of flats at Ryde and Guildford
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001