Conservation & Heritage Issue 49 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 10
Norwich Castle
Reopens
William the Conqueror’s Norwich Castle Keep
reopened its doors in August
On Wednesday 13 August one of the most spectacular
palaces in medieval Europe fully reopened its doors as
it turns back the clock 900 years to the heyday of Norman
England following a multi-million-pound redevelopment.
• Largest heritage project in the UK in 2025 opened its
doors this August
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 Keep becomes The People’s Palace - the UK’s most
accessible castle with visitors able to access all five
floors for the first time ever - from basement to rooftop
battlements
• Partnership with the British Museum creates
spectacular medieval gallery, showcasing over 900
medieval artefacts and treasures
• Visitors will be able to step into the past in
painstakingly researched and recreated room
settings allowing them to explore what life was like
in a Norman royal palace, alongside interactive
and immersive digital experiences telling stories of
medieval Norwich life like never before
• All visitors can experience spectacular views across the
city from the newly opened rooftop
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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.
Conservation & Heritage Journal
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