One of the most spectacular palaces in medieval Europe is fully reopening its doors as it turns back the clock 900 years to the heyday of Norman England following a multi-million-pound redevelopment.
This has been made possible thanks to National Lottery Players through a grant of over £13 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The overall project budget is £27.5 million, with £12 million contributed by Norfolk County Council and the remaining funding provided by other sources.
The Grade I-listed Norwich Castle Keep, in the historic city of Norwich in the heart of East Anglia, was originally commissioned by William the Conqueror and completed by his son King Henry I in 1121. Its mighty walls, built with Caen limestone shipped from Normandy, stand as a timeless testament to Norman power and grandeur.
The splendour of its medieval past has now been recreated, offering visitors a unique and immersive experience like never before. For the first time in the Keep’s 900-year history, visitors can now access all five floors, from basement to battlements, including spectacular views across Norwich from the rooftop. Whether visitors are exploring with a pushchair, mobility aid or with curious children, the Castle has been recreated with everyone in mind.
Original medieval floors and rooms have been meticulously – and sympathetically – reinstated and are furnished to create an authentic sense of what life was like in a Norman royal castle. To those that have visited previously it will seem almost unrecognisable as it takes visitors back to how it was in 1121. They will be able to step into the past as they move through these beautiful rooms where they can sit on a throne, dress up like a Norman noble or just enjoy the space and sense of grandeur.
Immersive storytelling is also at the heart of the new experience, with specially commissioned audio visuals which will run throughout the day using the walls of the huge Great Hall, creating a sense of spectacle appropriate to a royal palace which in twelfth-century England was at its height as a centre of power.
A new atmospheric medieval gallery showcases exceptional artefacts from across the medieval period - from the Norman Conquest to the reign of Henry VIII. Developed in partnership with the British Museum, the permanent Gallery of Medieval Life explores three key aspects of medieval society – workers, the nobility and the Church. Over 900 treasures, with more than 50 on long-term loan from the British Museum, bring visitors closer to the experiences of those who lived in this fascinating period.
Following the redevelopment, Norwich Castle is proudly now the most accessible castle in the UK. A new lift ensures wheelchair accessibility, accommodating those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) on every floor, including the rooftop battlements, while also supporting the access needs of families with pushchairs.
Dr Simon Thurley CBE, Chair of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:”‘The National Lottery Heritage Fund is very proud to have supported this ambitious and exciting project. Norwich Castle Keep is one of the most important Norman buildings in England which has, with the help of National Lottery players, come alive in an exciting and inspiring way.
"Based on meticulous research, with leading experts, and in partnership with the British Museum, the Norfolk Museums Service have shown how to make a great historic monument and world class collections come alive for a new generation of visitors.”
