Norman Thorp was born in Todmorden, Lancashire, England on 24 March 1879 and was articled to John Brooke (1853?-1914) in Manchester from 1895 to 1899. He then worked as an assistant to Aston Webb (1849-1930) in London. He qualified as an architect in 1900 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1901.
Thorp Initially practised as an architect in London. By the early 1920s he had moved to Todmordon, Yorkshire. His address was given as 19 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, London and 23 Union Road, Clapham, London in 1901 and 1909; 11 Argyll Place, Regent Street, London in 1911; North View, Todmordon, Yorkshire in 1923 and 1939; and High Trees, Theescombe Lane, Amberley, Stroud, Gloucestershire in 1971.
By 1939 he had retired as an architect. He died on 27 March 1971.
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