Norwich Castle opens door to medieval future

Norwich Castle opens door to medieval future

Children try on armour
Visitors will discover the Keep's Norman history
Norwich Castle’s Keep will return to its medieval heyday thanks to £9.2million from the National Lottery.

Norfolk Museums Service has secured the funding to transform the site into one of the region’s premier heritage attractions.

[quote=Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of HLF]"Thanks to National Lottery players, this major project is set to transform Norwich Castle." [/quote]

Sights, sounds and treasures

King Henry VI’s 900-year-old keep will once again be full of the sights, sounds and stories of a Norman royal castle, while a partnership with the British Museum will bring nationally important treasures to Norwich, as part of a new medieval gallery.

Once fit for a king, the keep will be fit for a modern audience and will include:

  • Medieval treasures on display from national  and Norfolk-based collections
  • A Great Hall complete with banqueting table, chapel and minstrels’ gallery
  • Newly exposed Norman archaeology and architecture, telling hidden stories of the castle’s past
  • Stunning views of medieval and modern-day Norwich from a unique platform at battlement level
  • Digital and learning spaces, which will be used as part of an innovative event and outreach programme
  • Improved access; for the first time all five levels of the keep will be accessible and there will be new and improved facilities for visitors
  • Opportunities for volunteers, trainees and apprentices

Boost for heritage and tourism

As well as major National Lottery funding, the project has received funds from a range of partners and from the public – who raised money through the ‘Keep Giving’ campaign and an ‘Adopt an Object’ scheme.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of HLF, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this major project is set to transform Norwich Castle, bringing it back to life in a way that recognises the important role it once played as one of the most important buildings in Europe and making a real difference to the region’s heritage and tourism offer.”

The revitalised keep is expected to open in 2020.

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