We're turning the clock back 900 years when Norwich Castle's magnificent medieval Keep reopens in summer 2024, transporting visitors to the heyday of Norman England.

The Grade I-listed Keep will recreate the splendour of the building and lives of its inhabitants like never before. From basement to battlements, the redevelopment will create an immersive sense of what it was like to live in a Norman royal castle, while providing accessible new learning spaces across five floor levels. This multi-million pound project is supported by a major grant of over £10 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

Located in Norfolk in the heart of East Anglia, construction of the castle was begun by William the Conqueror and completed by his son Henry I in 1121 – at that time making it one of the most spectacular palaces in medieval Europe.

The original medieval floors and room spaces are being reinstated and fully furnished, bringing alive the sights and sounds of this palace of the Norman kings as well as showcasing its influence and importance in twelfth-century England. 

As part of the redevelopment there will also be an atmospheric new permanent Gallery of Medieval Life, created in partnership with the British Museum – its first medieval gallery outside of London. The Gallery of Medieval Life: A British Museum partnership will showcase exceptional artefacts of the period – from the Norman Conquest to the reign of Henry VIII - displaying over 1,000 treasures of international importance, with over 50 on long-term loan from the British Museum. Illustrating life throughout society, the gallery will bring visitors closer to the experiences of people in this fascinating period while unlocking the secrets of East Anglia's medieval history and the world beyond.  

Alongside interactives helping to interpret the stunning display of original artefacts and architecture, visitors will be able to step into the medieval world with immersive experiences throughout the Keep. Audio visual projections in the Great Hall will draw on the drama and imagination of medieval art to bring the walls alive, while virtual reality headsets in the basement's digital zone will allow users to explore a recreation of Norman Norwich.

Visitors will also be able to get to know some of the people who lived in or visited Norwich Castle in the 1100s, via character panels which bring each individual's story to life – providing a human connection with the period which will help make it accessible to all ages. The Keep will also be the most accessible castle in the UK, accommodating wheelchair users, pushchairs and those with SEND requirements on every floor – uniquely, including the rooftop battlements.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

Media materials

A full press release containing more information about the redevelopment, interactive elements and the fantastic objects on display in the Gallery of Medieval Life: A British Museum partnership will be available in spring 2024.

Photography, and broadcast quality film footage will also be available.

Media previews

Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery will be holding a media preview prior to the opening. To arrange/register your interest, please contact the Culture Communications Collective:

• Adela Cragg: adela@culturecommscollective.com/07532 685 614

• Rebecca Gowrley: rebecca@culturecommscollective.com/07970 002 126

• Morag Wood: morag@culturecommscollective.com/07976 081 044

About Norwich Castle: A Palace Reborn

One of the city's most famous landmarks, Norwich Castle's mighty stone keep was built by the Normans as a royal palace over 900 years ago and spent at least 500 years as the county prison. Today the Castle site – which sits atop the largest man-made motte in England and Scheduled Ancient Monument – incorporates both the Grade I-listed medieval keep and a museum and art gallery housed in the converted buildings of the Victorian-era prison. The museum is home to some of the most outstanding collections of fine and decorative arts, archaeology and natural history, not only in the region, but the country.

The centrepiece of the Museum is the medieval Keep, which will reopen in early Summer 2024 after a major redevelopment funded with a grant of over £10 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – one of the largest heritage projects opening in the UK in 2024.

Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery is part of Norfolk Museums Service (NMS), a multi-award-winning service comprising ten museums and a study centre. NMS is a partnership between Norfolk County Council and Norfolk's district councils, funded through council tax, earned income and grants. www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

It is regarded as one of the leaders in the museum sector and since April 2018 has been a National Portfolio Organisation for Arts Council England.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK's heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund's vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in the strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.

The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.

The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people's lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.  

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund  www.heritagefund.org.uk

About Norwich Castle: Royal Palace Reborn's funders

We are very grateful to all our generous supporters who have made this extraordinary project possible.