The 900-year-old castle has reopened following a £27.5 million redevelopment, offering a glimpse into the medieval past through recreated rooms and a gallery showcasing more than 900 artefacts, plus a range of workshops and school visit options from EYFS to Key Stage 5.
Norwich Castle Keep reopened on Wednesday 13th August, following a £27.5 million redevelopment project that has seen the interior and exterior revitalised.
The Grade I-listed structure was originally commissioned by William the Conqueror and completed by his son King Henry I in 1121. The historic attraction’s medieval past has been recreated, with school groups now able to access all five floors from the basement to the battlements.
And there are lots of options for school visits, including workshops - see more details below.
Cllr Kay Mason-Billig, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “Anyone who has visited the Keep at Norwich Castle previously and now comes to see this wonderful redevelopment will be amazed. It now looks and feels like the medieval castle it once was, following a painstaking and authentic redevelopment.
“Multisensory elements and interactive exhibits also bring medieval Norwich to life, fostering a deeper connection to the past for visitors of all ages. We are so proud to have created such an accessible visitor attraction offering spectacular views across our wonderful city, and to have worked with so many supportive partners to launch the largest heritage development project opening in the UK this year.”
Following the redevelopment, the castle is wheelchair accessible across every floor with a new lift to accommodate those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
What’s changed? Revitalised spaces and immersive storytelling
Inside the Royal Palace, original medieval floors and rooms have been meticulously reinstated and furnished to create an authentic sense of what life was like in a Norman royal castle.
Visitors will be able to move through the rooms, where they can sit on a throne, dress up like a Norman noble or just enjoy the space.
The history of the Keep has been brought to life through an immersive storytelling experience with specially commissioned audio visuals telling the story of life in 12th-century England on the walls of the Great Hall. Hand-crafted textiles, including a 19-metre-long embroidered tapestry inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, banners and costumes are on display throughout.
A new medieval gallery has been created, showcasing artefacts 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, and features more than 900 pieces.
Items on display range from personal items such as an exquisitely carved ivory bobbin discovered in the castle’s drains, to elaborate scientific objects such as an astrolabe, used to make astronomical measurements.
Learning and school visits at Norwich Castle
The reopened Castle Keep hosts a range of workshops and learning visits for schools from EYFS to Key Stage 5, along with self-guided school visits. The castle also has an indoor picnic area with coat and bag storage and an outdoor space for picnics in the Castle Gardens.
EYFS pupils can enjoy open-ended trips around the galleries with topics to explore including shapes, animals and numbers. Events that engage pupils with different characters and activities are available for KS1-5.
KS1 pupils can take part in Life in a Castle events, which includes storytelling, games and getting hands on with medieval replica objects to prepare the great hall for the visit of the king. Literacy-focused Magical Creatures workshops, combining features of animals and birds are available for KS1-2.
KS2 groups can take part in events focusing on the Romans and Celtic Iceni tribe, Ancient Egypt and Saxons and Vikings, with workshops also available focusing on history and literacy.
Visits focused on specific topics, such as crime and punishment and medicine can be catered to school groups from KS2-5 and specific GCSE and A-Level sessions are also available on site.
Norwich Castle welcomes SEND school groups for sessions tailored to students. Current workshops available for SEND pupils are Medieval, Romans and Iceni, Prehistory, Ancient Egypt and Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.
To enquire about school visits email norwichcastle.bookings@norfolk.gov.uk or telephone 01603 493636.
For more information about Norwich Castle, visit www.norwichcastle.norfolk.gov.uk.
