OCR B (SHP) Criteria page - post-redevelopment

You can find our additional historical sources by following the links below. They are in the following formats:

Norwich Castle Museum Guidebook - we've copied pages 4-17 of the current guidebook and this is included in our resource pack
Maps
Photographs (you can use the zoom tool for images containing smaller text)
Information and guides used by us to inform our museum displays and resources
Notes made from books, reports, conferences, etc
Magazine articles
Graphic panels from our museum displays past and present
Primary sources, e.g. Chapel book, execution report
Textbooks
Pictures, drawings, images
Models
Animated films

A - The reasons for the location of the site within its surroundings

Castle, 1067-1345

Situated strategically at the end of a natural escarpment (steep slope), which lies to the south along the river
At the foot of the well-established Anglo-Saxon town of Norwich

Additional historical sources

Gaol/prison, 1345-1887

Norman castle used as a gaol from 1345 onwards
Became overcrowded. Prison reformer John Howard visited in 1776 and wrote a report to Parliament in 1777, highlighting terrible conditions in gaols around the country
New prison buildings were built in 1822-27 around the north and east walls, which had the most space on the mound
Courtroom was built at the bottom of the mound in 1822-27. It was linked to the prison for prisoner access via a spiral staircase and tunnel

Additional historical sources

Museum, 1887-present

Castle as symbol of civic and cultural pride for local people

Additional historical sources

B - When and why people first created the site

Castle, 1067-1345

1067: new Norman king William I imposed his power on the Anglo-Saxon population by building castles, including in Norwich. The castles garrisoned soldiers who were there to keep law and order and prevent rebellion
Domesday Book of 1086 indicates that 98 existing houses were demolished to make way for the Castle structure
A steep motte (or mound) was built. It was surrounded by deep, defensive dry ditches and baileys (open spaces between ditches), to make it difficult for any enemy to reach
The first Keep was made of wood so it could be built with speed. This also allowed the earth in the mottes time to settle before building in stone began in 1094 with the extension and expansion of the motte and ditches which would have taken around 200 labourers nearly one year to complete
Local flint and chalk was used to build the Castle but only six foot of wall could be built using these materials each year. Once the walls reached over head height wooden scaffolding and ropes were needed, with a team of around 16 experts instructing hundreds of labourers
Limestone was brought from Normandy to face the upper external walls as a reminder of the wealth and power of the Normans. The additional decoration of the walling was unique and expensive, marking the Keep as an intentionally lavish palace
The stone building was completed by 1121. The Keep was and still is 21m high and 28m wide, with walls around 3m thick. Today's site is only a small part of the original 23-acre site, called a fee, which had a separate jurisdiction from the city and included two churches. In order to reach the Keep, visitors would have entered through a large gateway near what is now Prospect House, into a bailey (which now forms part of Castle Quarter shopping mall), across a drawbridge and stone bridge, before then making their way up a stone staircase to the forebuilding on the first floor.
The original doorway is on the first floor on the eastern side, protected by a forebuilding which became known as the Bigod Tower after the local Bigod family of earls. This forebuilding was a waiting room for those wishing to enter the Keep. It was intended to impress visitors to the Keep. It copied the form of a Roman gateway or arch with one large entrance and a smaller one (this doorway was symbolic - it has always been blocked up) to the side. People would have known that this meant the room beyond was important. The larger doorway - which leads into the Keep - was originally brightly painted and elaborately carved
The forebuilding leads to the Great Hall which was the heart of the Keep. This grand public space was used to display and perform royal power. This vast room's central focus was a raised platform with a royal throne and high table. From here the king or his representative heard pleas, dispensed justice and conducted day-to-day business and administration of local government. Hospitality was another important element of exercising and displaying royal power. The Great Hall was used to hold feasts and entertainment for the court and its guests. The large windows and elaborate architectural detail are the best surviving indication of the elite function of this room. This splendid effect was complemented with rich furnishings and textiles, the finest of which always travelled with the king's court
The large gallery or mezzanine overlooking the great hall was a multifunctional space. For feasts and ceremonies, it offered additional room for eating and sleeping, and for musicians and minstrels to provide entertainment from this level. However, it also served a defensive purpose. This mezzanine level was reached via two staircases leading to a passageway built into the thickness of the wall. The passageway, also known as a fighting gallery, extended around all four sides of the building. It connected to other mezzanines in the south of the Keep, either side of the Great Chamber. In case of attack, it allowed soldiers to move around freely around the Keep. It also may have allowed servants to move around the Keep discreetly
A small kitchen in the north-west corner supported catered for the Castle's inhabitants. Its presence in the Keep was a statement of royal prestige and status. This was probably the smallest of several kitchens at the Castle. To reduce the risk of fire most of the cooking would have been done in separate kitchens outside the Keep
If you are going to eat and drink you will also need to go to the toilet and this provided another opportunity to impress visitors! The garderobes (toilets) were vast and elaborate. They communicated power and prestige like nothing else. The four compartment latrines, seating up to sixteen at a time, were incorporated into the west wall of the Keep. A slope on the exterior wall helped guide the waste into a special pit below. This then had to be shovelled out by hand. The number of toilet compartments demonstrate the capacity of the building to accommodate large numbers of visitors at any one time. Their layout and different access routes may suggest a division in status, with the garderobes to the south near the Great Chamber being more private (perhaps for the use of the king and his closest advisors), and those to the north, near the kitchen, more public in their use
The other half of the floor, on the other side of the spine wall, was made up of the king's Great Chamber and Chapel. The Great Chamber was a semi-private space used for domestic living and entertainment, and private and official conversation. Access to this space was tightly controlled. The king and queen used this space during their rare visits. In their absence, it may have been used by senior royal officials like the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. Limited access allowed the room to be a more private space of royal business and quiet leisure. This room was designed for use by the king, and this is reflected by additional luxury features. The south wall incorporated a large fireplace and elaborate water basin, and access to fresh water was provided by the well shaft that extended all the way up to the chamber. These amenities would have been supplemented with elaborate furniture and textiles, many of which would have travelled with the royal household. Such items address to the sumptuous appearance of the chamber and the comfort of the inhabitants
The Chapel: prayer and Christian worship were at the heart of everyday Medieval life. It was important for the King to be, and to be seen to be, a pious Christian. A chaplain would say a daily Mass in the chapel for either the Sheriff's or the King's household. The chapel was also used for private and communal prayer and for other religious ceremonies. Priests and other clergy were important members of both the king's and the sheriff's households. As well as their religious positions they also performed a range of roles at every level of government administration. There were two entrances to the chapel. One is a private one from the Great Chamber and another leads from the Great Hall. The arch of the vaulted altar space is decorated with sculpted capitals which were brightly painted. When the King was present, the chapel would have been richly furnished with textiles, liturgical objects and royal thrones. The chapel's layout is unusual because the sanctuary, built into the south-east corner, does not pointing directly east, as would be expected
The only other floor in the Keep was the basement. The northern half of the Keep basement contained large stone arches supporting the floor above and was probably originally used for storage. It later became a rubbish dump and excavation has revealed the debris of its medieval occupants, including high status food like venison and porpoise. The size of this space resulted from the desire to make the principal floor more impressive by raising it high above the level of the castle mound. Its scale may also reflect the amount of storage needed to supply the royal court. This area was initially planned with corner vaults to support the principal floor. These were abandoned around the time of the basement's completion, and an arcade of piers were constructed. These were later adapted to a different cruciform style of supports
The southern half of the basement contained the well shaft and provided further storage for the Keep. The well was dug deep into the underlying chalk when the first mound was raised for a wooden tower. Its position dictated the layout and location of the subsequent stone Keep. The shaft originally extended up through the principal floor to the mezzanine above, provided a convenient and secure source of water inside the private chambers. The overall depth from mezzanine floor to the bottom of the shaft was over 65 metres. A number of other walls around the well were added to the Keep basement during the early construction period. These supported features of the principal floor above, in particular the architecture of the chapel

Additional historical sources

Gaol/prison, 1345-1887

Edward III sold the Castle fee (area around the Castle) and loaned the building to the city in 1345. It then became the county gaol
Became overcrowded. Prison reformer John Howard visited in 1776 and wrote a report to Parliament a year later
New prison buildings were built in 1822-27 around the north and east walls, which had the most space on the mound
Courtroom for prisoner trials was built at the bottom of the mound in 1822-27, linked to the prison for easy and safe access via a spiral staircase and tunnel

Additional historical sources

Museum, 1887-present

Castle as symbol of civic and cultural pride for local people

Additional historical sources

C - The ways in which the site has changed over time

Castle/royal palace, 1067-1345

The Castle was built not just to protect the Normans but also to protect ordinary citizens, including Norwich's Jewish community. By the start of the 12th-century, a Jewish community had settled in Norwich below the Castle in what is now White Lion Street. The medieval synagogue was built on the site now occupied by the Lamb Inn and Primark. A sad example of when protection was needed can be found from a text written by Thomas of Monmouth, a monk of Norwich Cathedral. He wrote an account detailing the murder of a Christian boy called William by certain Jews in Norwich during Easter 1144. There was no basis to the charges, which were driven by a combination of spite, jealousy and anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) feeling. The Jews sought the support and protection of the sheriff, the king's representative, who harboured them in the royal Castle until the crisis had passed. However, those members of the community who did not reach the protection of the Castle were massacred. These charges became the basis of what has been called 'the blood libel', the claim that Jewish people actively murdered Christian children in rituals. These claims became a key factor in the persecution of Jewish communities across the world for the next 800 years
The way that quarried stone blocks were cut changed throughout the medieval period. The marks that remain, called tooling, can be used to identify when certain stones were cut as well as the phases of building construction. In the Keep there are three different types of tooling marks. Horizontal tooling is mostly found in the basement level. Stones cut in this manner appear to be the earliest masonry. Diagonal tooling is a common style in Romanesque architecture (about 1050-1200), and is found most on the principal floor of the Keep, which suggests that this method was utilised in the later stages of construction. Claw chisel tooling (marks left by a multi-toothed chisel) emerged from about 1200 onwards. It is found in the spine wall and the cruciform pier bases, indicating that these were later additions to the original Keep design
Foundations show that another hall was built on the mound to the north of the Keep in the 1280s. In 1286-8 Edward I spent over £600 on rebuilding this hall. This may have been an aisled structure, constructed against the north side of the Keep. The top of the motte was enclosed with a wooden palisade wall until 1268, when it was rebuilt in stone

Additional historical sources

Gaol/prison, 1345-1887

Edward III couldn't afford the upkeep of the building as the roof was starting to collapse, so sold the fee and loaned the building to the city in 1345
The Keep housed prisoners awaiting trials, plus debtors
The basement's piers were demolished when the Keep changed from a palace to a gaol, but their stone and rubble bases were left
By the late 17th century, a house for the gaol governor was built on the mound
It is thought the hall, built in the 1280s, was converted into the Shirehall courtroom, which burnt down in 1746 and was rebuilt in 1749
During the 1730s the baileys were levelled out and became a cattle market
Architect Sir John Soane designed and built a new gaol block in and around the Keep in 1789-1794, removing the original staircase up to the entrance door of the Keep. The Keep was now just a roofless shell
However, the buildings around the Keep were too small and so were demolished in the 1820s. Soane's gatehouses at the bottom of the bridge remained
Another new gaol designed by William Wilkins was built around the Keep in 1822-27 along with a courtroom at the bottom of the mound. Wilkins employed the newly fashionable arrangement of wings radiating from a central Governor's house, which allowed for the classification of prisoners and debtors, with separate exercise yards for each class. There was a school room, a chapel, a hospital with a surgeon and eventually a bakery
Architect Anthony Salvin refaced the castle with Bath limestone, 1834-9
William White's description of the gaol in 1845 tells us there were 240 cells in the new prison buildings, 36 in the Keep (276 in total). He also tells us that there were 801 prisoners in 1835 and 813 in 1843

Additional historical sources

Museum, 1887-present day

Gaol moved to Mousehold Heath in 1887 and the process of converting the Castle's prison buildings into a museum began
Edward Boardman, a Norwich architect, was commissioned to convert the Keep and prison
His work involved ripping out Soane's gaol cell block
To support the new roof, open arches were built down the centre of the Keep, another floor was put in above the basement with a staircase leading from the main entrance area, and a balcony was installed at the level of the original Norman floor
The governor's house was replaced with a courtyard and gardens
The museum was opened in 1894 by the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George V and Queen Mary
A large development programme saw the construction of two new art galleries in 1950
The cattle market was replaced with a car park in 1960
In 1969, the central Rotunda was introduced, with the infilling of an open courtyard and garden to unify the museum and provide new facilities
A bar and restaurant were added in the 1970s, as well as a staircase up to the forebuilding which linked to Boardman's staircase into the Keep, creating an 'L'-shaped staircase
Between 1987 and 1991 the car park was excavated before Castle Mall (now Castle Quarter) indoor shopping and cinema complex was built on its site. It opened in 1993
£12m Heritage Lottery refurbishment in 2001 which included the building of an auditorium, Picnic Room, Education Room and shop 
The courtroom at the bottom of the mound was still used for trials until it moved to new buildings in Norwich in 1988. The room was then used for storage by Norfolk Museums Service until its refurbishment in 2013
Work started in March 2020 on an £27.5m redevelopment of the Keep and visitor spaces, majority funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Norfolk County Council. A new entrance, atrium, shop, café and Clore Learning Centre opened in July 2024
The new entrance adapts the existing 1960s block known as the Percival Wing while incorporating elements of the Victorian fabric designed by architect Edward Boardman. The new entrance was designed by architects Feilden + Mawson, experts in the restoration and adaptation of historic buildings, who have worked on many projects in the city and region, including Norwich Cathedral. Building work was undertaken by Morgan Sindall Construction
Visitors arriving at the Castle on foot up the bridge are now welcomed through new main doors which are aligned directly with the bridge. They will be able to view, via a glazed roof, the east wall of the Norman Keep
On the ground floor visitors will also discover a new shop, larger than the previous space, with an open plan design and flexible retail units. The shop offers a wide range of carefully curated gifts, many of which feature items related to Norwich Castle's collections
Located on the first floor of the Percival, the new café features a glass balcony offering visitors a view of the Keep as they dine. The emphasis will be on using the best locally sourced ingredients, with much of the menu made fresh on site
The Education Room on the second floor has been updated and is now a much larger space, complete with extensive purpose-built storage and a new projector for films and presentations. The new room means activities like painting or working with clay and other messier materials can be more easily accommodated. The Education Room is now known as the Clore Learning Centre
In August 2025 Norwich Castle Keep became 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
Visitors are now 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. 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
Immersive storytelling is at the heart of the new experience, with specially commissioned audiovisuals which run throughout the day using the walls of the huge Great Hall. These projections create a sense of spectacle appropriate to a royal palace which in 12th-century England was at its height as a centre of power
Across the project the changes and interventions have been implemented with the utmost sensitivity, in order to protect this hugely significant Grade I-listed building sited on top of a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This has involved architects Feilden+Mawson, experts in the restoration and adaptation of historic buildings, alongside skilled engineers, contractors and conservation experts
The Gallery of Medieval Life: A British Museum Partnership. 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 period. It is the British Museum's first medieval gallery outside of London, and its seventh Partnership Gallery to open around the UK
In the basement are the remains of the impressive medieval pier bases, on which the arcade of arches which supported the principal floor above once rested. The pier bases have been newly interpreted with a light sculpture installation outlining the lost arches, enabling visitors to better understand this atmospheric space
The 'L'-shaped staircase in the main entrance area was turned to recreate the original straight staircase up to the forebuilding

Additional historical sources

D - How the site has been used throughout its history

Castle/royal palace, 1067-1345

Built as a royal palace which explains the grand decoration of the building inside and out
No Norman kings actually lived in it, but the king's sheriff (his representative) and a garrison of soldiers were stationed here to administer the region
The day's business, feasts and entertaining took place in the Great Hall and this is also where most people would have slept
The king's sheriff had luxurious private chambers with a fireplace, sink, bed and garderobes, and lavish decorations
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recorded the only time Henry I was known to visit Norwich: "In this year [1121], King Henry spent Christmas at Norwich."
The baileys were used for grazing livestock and housing the industries and dwellings associated with the Castle, e.g. main kitchens, blacksmith, armourer, prison, textile production, grain storage. There was also a chapel, dedicated to St Nicholas on the north part of the motte.
The south bailey became a cattle market, with drovers bringing livestock from around the region
The Castle was besieged three times - in 1075, 1173, 1216
The Castle lost its military importance in the 14th century following the building of the city walls from 1297. These encircled 2.5 miles of the city, with 12 defensive gates fortified with great catapults

Additional historical sources

Gaol/prison, 1345-1887

Gaol/prison for at least 500 years (gaol is where suspects are held before trial; prison is where convicted criminals are held as punishment)
A Shirehall courtroom on the Castle mound was used for trials
Baileys were levelled out in the 1730s and became a cattle market
New prison building in 1822-27 meant different types of prisoners could be kept in different blocks, with each prisoner having their own cell. There were also exercise yards in between blocks
New courtroom built in 1822-27 at the bottom of the mound for prisoners' trials

Additional historical sources

Museum, 1887-present

Incorporated the collections of the earlier Norfolk and Norwich Museum
The biggest and finest early collections were of natural history, particularly birds
Museum also now home to historical collections from Ancient Egypt, Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods
Collection also includes the Norwich School of Artists (three generations of landscape artists who lived and worked in the first half of the 19th century) and others
Houses decorative arts from medieval period to present day, including silver, ceramics, jewellery, glass, costume, textiles and teapots
In 1960 the cattle market became a car park, which then became Castle Mall (now called Castle Quarter) in 1993

Additional historical sources

E - The diversity of activities and people associated with the site

Castle/royal palace, 1067-1345

Henry I spent Christmas in Norwich in 1121. It is thought the following people would have lived and/or worked in the Keep during this time:
Robert fitz Walter, Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. The sheriff was in charge of the Castle during the king's absence (which was most of the time). In event of a rebellion, he was responsible for provisioning the Castle garrison and organising the Castle's defences. Sheriffs also performed a range of administrative duties. They were responsible for collecting the revenues of the king from Norfolk and Suffolk, for maintaining the king's peace in these shires, and for executing the king's justice. Welcoming Henry I to the Castle would have been no less stressful for Robert than his toughest military challenges
Benjamin, one of Henry's officials. He was one of the leading royal officials in the shires of Norfolk and Suffolk. His brother, Joseph, also appears to have been involved in the running of the shire. Henry was well known for promoting capable 'new men' due to their talent and not because of their birth. Benjamin was one of these people. As an official close to Sheriff Robert fitz Walter, Benjamin would have attended the meetings and events taking place in the Great Hall of the Castle
Oin Polcehard and Ralph de Marchia were both named as cooks in the king's kitchen. Oin worked in a senior capacity overseeing the smooth operation of the kitchen as a whole. Ralph was responsible for cooking for the king's most intimate circle (it was important that food for the monarch was carefully prepared by a loyal cook, as there was always the danger of poisoning). The king's cooks and kitchen staff travelled with the king as part of his display of power and wealth. A sumptuous dining experience was a particularly effective way of demonstrating the prosperity and cosmopolitan nature of the king's court. In Henry's case, all this culinary splendour may have been tailored for the pleasure of the royal household and for his guests: the king himself was remembered by contemporaries as preferring plain and simple food
Queen Adeliza of Louvain, second wife of King Henry. Adeliza would have accompanied King Henry on his visit to Norwich in 1121, as his new, very young bride. Her presence in Norwich (and in the Great Hall of the Castle) would have been a powerful statement of the king's good fortune and promise for the kingdom's future, as there was a great hope that Adeliza would give Henry a new son. Queen Adeliza may have been young, but she was well-known for her love of literature - she was a patron to Anglo-Norman poets, encouraging the use of Anglo-Norman French as the court language. As the royal hostess, Adeliza would have engaged in conversation, enjoyed food and drink, overseen the music and performances, and perhaps even danced with the courtiers
William, the king's chaplain and almoner. William served as almoner for the king. This means he would have been responsible for the distribution of the king's money and extra foodstuffs to the poor. It was a very important office. William served in this office for almost 15 years. As the king's almoner, William played an important part in the management of the king's chapel. William celebrated mass for the king and his family, led the household in prayer, and looked after the chapel's books, liturgical gear, and relics. These responsibilities were especially important when the royal chapel was travelling across English and Normandy
Workers in the baileys
Three sieges - 1075, 1173, 1216

Additional historical sources

Gaol/prison

John Howard reported in 1777 that:
Prisoners had to pay a fee to enter and if they wanted a bed
Prisoners were given 20oz bread a day, plus some cheese and coal
Upper gaol had 10 rooms for debtors
Lower gaol had several rooms for debtors and felons
Pump and bath in the middle of the gaol
Down a ladder was a dungeon for male felons which was flooded
Small room for female felons, separated from the men
Two airy rooms for sick inmates
Gaoler was humane and respected
Felons and debtors made laces, purses and nets and sold them from the gates
Nurse or matron provided straw and bread
Surgeon could order broth, gruel, milk-pottage
Charity paid for three sermons a year
Although Howard's report says men and women were separated, there are reports of babies being born in the gaol
Two of the most famous prisoners were Henry Kable and Susannah Holmes. Henry was arrested for burglary in 1783 along with his father and his uncle. The two older men were hanged but Henry was imprisoned in Norwich Castle where he began a relationship with fellow prisoner Susannah Holmes. In 1786, Susannah and their baby (who had been born in prison), were taken to Plymouth to join the first convict ship to Australia. The family was ultimately reunited and sailed together. On arrival in the new colony they became one of the first European couples to be married there. They couple and their 11 children prospered in farming and shipping, and today are remembered as one of the founding families of Australia
From the 19th century, the gaoler was in charge of a team of turnkeys (guards) who were responsible for security and maintaining order
Prisoners had their own cell and a standard diet. They faced brutal tasks, such as the treadmill. At first the treadmill ground grain for a local bakery then later was used to keep the water system full; once the water system was full, the prisoners just compressed air
Trials took place in the courtroom, and involved judges, lawyers, prisoners, jury members, witness, clerks, reporters and the public

Additional historical sources

Museum

Museum workers - Visitor Services, Building Services, Learning, Curators, Display and Conservation teams
The People's Palace: Bringing the Keep's fascinating history to life and creating authentically styled furnishings and details has taken the talents of an amazing team of people, from curators to archaeologists, academics, architects, experts, skilled craftspeople and volunteers. One of the highlights of the Keep is the Norwich Friends' Tapestry. Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, this beautiful 19-metre-long embroidery now hangs in the King's Chamber. This extraordinary tapestry narrates two rebellions in the east of England against William the Conqueror. It was meticulously made by a team of 50 dedicated local volunteers. There are also many other hand-crafted pieces in the Keep, including banners, wall hangings, costumes and other textiles, all produced by volunteers in over 30,000 hours of dedicated work

Additional historical sources

Norwich 12 Teachers' Resource Pack  (PDF, 2 MB)

F - The reasons for changes to the site and to the way it was used

Military and administrative importance of the Keep declined due to the building of the city walls in the 13th century and the Guildhall in the 15th century. The Keep began to be used as a gaol
The baileys fell into disrepair and were levelled out and used as a cattle market from 1730s
By mid-18th century the prison was overcrowded. John Howard, a well-known prison reformer, wrote a report about it in 1777, highlighting conditions 
Soane's gaol was built in 1789-1794 within and to the side of the Keep, but was too small and so was demolished in the 1820s and replaced with Wilkins's prison, which had cell blocks radiating out from the gaoler's house in the middle
Due to erosion of the Normandy limestone, the Keep was re-faced with Bath stone (1834-39) in order to restore it to how it would have looked when the Normans first built it. The only difference in the re-faced Keep is that the whole exterior is now faced in stone while the original building was flint up to the first floor on the exterior
The Gaoler's Journal had frequently recorded prisoners becoming serious ill with 'Gaol Fever', so heating pipes were installed in the 1840s to keep cells above regulation temperature
Became unfit for purpose and so the prison moved to Mousehold Heath in 1887
Donation from John Gurney of £5,000 to turn it into a museum, 1887-94
The cattle market moved to a larger site to the south of the city in 1960 and its old site became a car park before then becoming a shopping and cinema complex in 1993
The courtroom at the bottom of the mound also became unfit for purpose and, after trials moved to new buildings in 1988, the space was used for storage by Norfolk Museums Service until money was raised to refurbish it in 2013
The People's Palace redevelopment aimed to bring the site's Norman Castle Keep to life, and opened in 2025. Edward Boardman had wanted to reinstate the original Norman floor, 1887-94, but it proved too expensive. The 2025 redevelopment achieved the reinstatement of the Norman floor, but was controversial to some because it removed Boardman's internal balcony and staircases in the Keep and moved his entrance staircase. The 21st-century project was made possible thanks to National Lottery players through a grant of over £13 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The overall project budget was £27.5 million, with £12 million contributed by Norfolk County Council and the remaining funding provided by other sources

Additional historical sources

G - Significant times in the site's past: peak activity, major developments, turning points

1067 - Normans demolished around 100 Anglo-Saxon homes and at least one church to make way for the Castle
1075 - Lady Emma and the 1075 rebellion: Ralph de Gauder, Earl of East Anglia, rebelled against William I. He left his wife Emma alone to defend the Castle for three months while he fled to Brittany. William won the Castle back after a three-month siege
1094 - work on building a stone Keep began
1121 - The stone Keep was completed and Henry I spent Christmas in Norwich
1173 - The Castle, under the guardianship of sheriff Hugh Bigod, was taken by Flemish invaders on behalf of Prince Henry, against the prince's father, Henry II. The king took back control the following year
1215-16 - Prince Louis of France took the Castle after being invited to England by English barons unhappy with King John. Louis was sent back to France after John died and John's son, Henry III, took the throne
1345 - Edward III relinquished the Castle as a royal palace. It was used as the county gaol
1730s - The baileys were levelled out and became a cattle market
1789-1794 - Sir John Soane built a new gaol inside and around the Keep
1822-27 - Soane's gaol was demolished and replaced with William Wilkins's design. Courtroom built at bottom of mound
1834-39 - Anthony Salvin began re-facing the Castle with Bath limestone
1880s - John Gurney, Mayor of Norwich, donated £5,000 to help move the Norfolk & Norwich Museum from St Andrews Street to the Castle
1887-94 - Architect Edward Boardman submitted plans for converting the gaol to a museum. Excavation and building work began
1894 - The Castle was converted into a museum, which was opened on 23 October by the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George V and Queen Mary
1950 - A large development programme saw the construction of two new art galleries
1960 - The cattle market was replaced with a car park
1969 - An open courtyard and garden were infilled to create the central Rotunda, to unify the museum and provide new facilities
1987-91 - Car park excavated
1993 - Castle Mall shopping and cinema complex opens on the car park site
2001 - Norwich Castle was relaunched after a Heritage Lottery-funded refurbishment which included the building of an auditorium, Picnic Room, Education Room and shop
2006 - Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) includes the Castle in its Norwich 12 initiative, which promoted the 12 most important buildings in Norwich
2016 - An initial grant was given by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop plans to return the Keep to its medieval form and create new visitor facilities within the museum
2018 - Stage 2 funding granted by the National Lottery Heritage Fund gave the green light to the redevelopment project
2018-19 - Archaeological excavations and surveys uncovered more about the site's medieval foundations
2020 - Work began on site to restore the Castle Keep to its former medieval glory. Tower crane erected
2020-21 - Site temporarily closed to the public due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Delays to reopening were caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Workers also uncovered hidden Norman and Victorian features that needed preservation
2024 - A new entrance, atrium, shop, café and learning space opened
2025 - Norwich Castle Keep reopened as a "people's palace" with reinstated medieval floors and rooms, a spectacular Gallery of Medieval Life in partnership with the British Museum, new interactive and multisensory experiences, and enhanced accessibility

Additional historical sources

H - The significance of specific features in the physical remains at the site

Castle/royal palace

The forebuilding was the original entrance to the royal hall in the Keep. The elaborate carvings on the doorway show symbols of wealth and power including the classical winged horse, a dragon, an eagle, a kneeling knight (a reminder of the feudal system) and royal hunting scenes (referencing William's hunting laws, which were hated by the local population). These symbols acted as reminders to the Anglo-Saxons of who was now in power.
Graffiti in the Great Hall. There is a face of a woman wearing a wimple. The style of headdress dates the carving to the 13th century. We do not know who she is but the smoothness of the carving suggests that it has been touched repeatedly over the centuries so she may be a revered religious figure or saint
Also in the Great Hall is a carved figure with arms outstretched. It is one of several depictions of Christ or St Andrew on the cross in the Keep. This may be because by the 14th century Norwich Castle had stopped being a royal palace and was principally used as a gaol. The religious imagery carved on the walls may reflect prayers for protection or clemency by those imprisoned here
Kitchen. The inclusion of food preparation spaces inside castle keeps was rare in the 12th-century. The presence of a kitchen in Norwich Castle Keep was a statement of royal prestige and status. The decision to incorporate a kitchen was taken while the Keep was already under construction. We know this because the kitchen's fireplace started off as a circular staircase, which can still be seen through the fireplace door. Because the stairs were never used, these are the best-preserved Norman steps in England!
The well was the first thing to be built and was around 65m deep from the bottom of the shaft to the mezzanine floor
Fireplace and sink (water would have come out of the lion's mouth on the outside of the wall) in the south wall in the king's quarters
The Chapel window faces southeast, not east to Jerusalem. This could be that because the altar needed to be built in a semi-circle, it was easier to do this on a corner than along a straight wall
Graffiti on the Chapel walls show weapons like swords and shields with coats of arms. The original purpose behind these carvings is unclear. They may be associated with the nobles and knights who visited Norwich Castle, and their bored servants!

Additional historical sources

Gaol/prison

Graffiti elsewhere show religious carvings and declarations of innocence made by Medieval prisoners
Wilkins's prison in 1822-27 was designed so the gaoler's house and chapel were in the centre with cell blocks radiating out from them so the gaoler could 'oversee' all prisoners and be a source of inspiration to them
Grave markers of murderers who were hanged outside Norwich Castle and whose bodies were not buried in churchyards

Additional historical sources

I - The importance of the whole site either locally or nationally, as appropriate

Norwich landmark for over 900 years
One of the finest surviving secular (non-religious) Norman buildings in Europe
Norfolk's principal museum and art gallery from 1894
Collections are designated as being nationally significant and include archaeology, fine and decorative arts, natural history and geology
Ancient Egyptian displays include many artefacts from Ancient Egyptian tombs from between 2,500-4,500 years ago. These artefacts were donated from collections of wealthy Norfolk travellers who visited Egypt during the 19th century. The artefacts include rare exhibits such as a clay model of a granary. One of the most stunning artefacts is the mummy of Ankh Hor, which was presented to the Castle in 1928 by King George V
The Boudica Gallery tells the story of how one Norfolk woman nearly beat the Romans. There are displays of Celtic treasures such as torcs (neck rings worn as symbols of power) and silver coins
The Roman Gallery tells how the Romans influenced British life through roads, towns, bathing, water supplies, shops, medicine, sewers and entertainment
The Anglo-Saxon and Viking collection is one of the best in the region and includes the West Norfolk Hoard, which contains 132 rare 7th-century coins. Only a handful of these types of hoards are known across Europe
Natural History: Many of the species displayed had never been seen before. A lot of the taxidermy, eggs, and mounted and jarred specimens were donated by local collectors after expeditions to unexplored parts of the world. Although it is very rare nowadays for animals to be killed for the purposes of collecting, older collections such as these are extremely useful in the study of current issues such as climate change and the conservation of rare species. Such collections are increasingly being used to reveal genetic and environmental changes over time. Also on display is the Happisburgh handaxe, which has been dated to around 500,000 years old, making it among the oldest tools ever found in Britain. The Bird Gallery has examples of nearly every species found in Britain.
being used to reveal genetic and environmental changes over time.
Art: Paintings by JMW Turner and Thomas Gainsborough, two of the best-known British artists. Also on show is The Paston Treasure, which was painted by an unknown artist. It was commissioned by the Paston family in the 1670s to show off the family's 'treasures'
Norwich School of Artists: Norfolk landscape artists including John Crome, a talented landscape painter, and John Sell Cotman, one of Britain's outstanding water colourists
Wider World Gallery: An Alternative A-Z of Empire by The Singh Twins, 2022. This mixed media on a light box was commissioned in 2022 to explore global perspectives on colonial histories in response to objects in Norfolk Museums Service's collection
Decorative Arts: Norwich was England's second city until late 18th century and played an important role in decorative arts and manufacture, including nationally important silver, ceramics, jewellery, glass, costume and textiles. Most important is Lowestoft Porcelain, 1757-1800, many pieces made to order and inscribed with customers' names
Teapots: with around 3,000 examples, the collection is the finest of its kind in the world
Royal Norfolk Regiment: equipment, medals, personal belongings, letters and diaries belonging to members of the local army regiment, including a Victoria Cross
Named as one of the Norwich 12 by HEART in 2006 - one of 12 buildings within the city which collectively represent a millennium of urban development
Awarded £27.5m, majority funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Norfolk County Council, to redevelop the Keep and visitor spaces, 2020-25
Following the People's Palace redevelopment, Norwich Castle is 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 on the rooftop battlements, while also supporting the access needs of families with pushchairs
Multisensory elements allow visitors to interact with every space, from dressing up and sitting on a restored throne as a Norman king or queen to experiencing the sounds of medieval life. A tactile map supports visitors with visual impairments to explore the spaces. Visitors also have the chance to find out more about 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 help makes it accessible to all ages
Alongside the stunning displays of original artefacts and architecture, interactive and immersive experiences throughout the Keep enable visitors to step into the medieval world. Audiovisual projections in the Great Hall draw on the drama and imagination of medieval art to bring the walls alive. A bespoke Early Years space will support youngest visitors' learning (in pre-booked groups). A range of digital displays allow visitors to explore further, from the story of the Norwich Friends' Tapestry to how to dress in the medieval period
The Gallery of Medieval Life has been created in partnership with the British Museum, and is the British Museum's first medieval gallery outside London. It includes over 900 medieval objects including over 50 on long-term loan from the British Museum. Items include personal objects 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. There are treasure finds recently discovered by local metal detectorists and recorded through the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme, as well as specially conserved artefacts that were previously too fragile to display
A documentary made by Eye Film and narrated by Sir Stephen Fry, The Castle: Rebuilding History, aired on Channel 4 on Sunday 24 August 2025

Additional historical sources

J - The typicality of the site based on a comparison with other similar sites

Similarities between Norwich Castle and Norman castles in general

Outside

Motte or mound
A big stone keep
Large stone building blocks and thick walls
Curved, arched doorways
Small, narrow windows for shooting arrows
Bailey or yard at bottom of motte
A moat and drawbridge

Inside

Dark, cramped, noisy, smelly, smoky

Differences

Does not have a great tower
Had a kitchen. Food preparation spaces inside castle keeps was rare in the 12th-century
Not as smoky as other castles as the two fireplaces in the outer walls had chimneys or smoke outlets. However, the fire in the centre of the Great Hall didn't have an outlet
Built as a royal palace so not as grim and stark as other castles of the period - Falaise in Normandy is the closest but not as decorative as Norwich Castle
Prison buildings and a courtroom built around the Castle in 1822-27

Other castles of the period

Immediately after the Norman Conquest castles were built at a number of places to deter attempts at local rebellion. Pevensey (Sussex), Hastings (Sussex) and Dover (Kent) were all built to protect William's strategic connection with Normandy across the English Channel
Elsewhere during the 1070s William ordered the building of stone castles at Colchester and London, the latter now known as the White Tower (part of the Tower of London)
Slightly later in date are Norwich and Rochester Castles, where work began during the reign of William II (1087-1100).  These early castles were also palaces where the king could receive his powerful subjects and dispense justice
As in Normandy these stone castles in England were accompanied by timber castles built by powerful barons, usually with the agreement of the king. These timber castles protected the baron from attacks by his enemies and were a means of demonstrating his power to the surrounding population. Over a period of time these timber castles were rebuilt in stone
During the Middle Ages the role of the castle began to change. Gradually the king ceased to visit the larger castles such as Colchester and Norwich. At the same time their defensive role declined as they were unable to resist attack by cannon. Instead the role of some castles, such as Colchester and Norwich, was reduced to being a gaol. Smaller castles continued to be built but these were more prestigious country houses rather than military strongholds
In the 17th century, at the time of the English Civil War, some castles in England (though not Norwich) briefly served a military purpose and, in some cases, were badly damaged as a result. Others such as Rochester fell gradually into ruin, losing their roofs and floors and becoming covered in vegetation. Some castles, including Caen from 1718 and Dover from 1744, were used to house military garrisons. Finally, some castles became museums, as was the case at Colchester in 1860 and Norwich in 1894.

Additional historical sources

Norwich Castle Keep notes by TA Heslop (Word doc, 12 KB)
Find out about the Norman Connections project, which looks at the links between key sites in England and Normandy. The project explores shared history as well as common cultures, traditions and characters

Similarities between Norwich Castle Prison and Pentonville Prison

Gaolers' house in the middle of the prison so gaoler could oversee and inspire prisoners
Exercise yards in between cell blocks
Different blocks for different types of prisoners, e.g. criminal, debtors
Hard labour for prisoners, e.g. treadmill, picking oakum

Differences

Norwich Castle Keep was part of the prison, with cells and an exercise yard inside the Keep
Norwich used the silent system (where prisoners aren't allowed to speak to each other) until 1850, whereas Pentonville was designed for the separate system from when it was built in 1842. The separate system kept prisoners apart - they only left their cells for religious services and exercises

Additional historical sources

Crime And Punishment Through Time Shp Student Textbook And Teachers Resource Book (PDF, 341 KB) by Ian Dawson (copyright), reproduced by permission of Hodder Education and Mary Evans Picture Library
Floor Plan Of The 1822 Prison (Image, 309 KB)

Similarities between Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery and other county museums

Galleries on the county's history, artefacts, natural history and art

Differences (possible!)

Norman keep
19th century prison buildings and courtroom
Nationally significant collections

Additional historical sources

Other museums

K - What the site reveals about everyday life, attitudes and values in particular periods of history

Castle/royal palace, 1067-1345

Normans built the Castle as a royal palace to remind the Anglo-Saxons of the Normans' wealth and power:
Limestone used on the upper external walls was shipped from France at a cost of over three times its original value. The decoration of the walling was unique and also expensive to do, indicating that the stone Keep was designed as a lavish palace
Carvings included a knight kneeling (how to greet a king) and hunting scenes (only the king was allowed to hunt)
Normans linked themselves to ancient Rome as they drew on architecture and images of the period
Normans also needed somewhere to accommodate the king, his sheriff and soldiers in case of rebellion
The Great Hall hosted feasts and the nearby kitchen was used to prepare food before it was served. The proximity between the two spaces allowed cooks to deliver food that was not only elaborate but also piping hot. Such efficiency and quality would have impressed everyone feasting in the Great Hall, regardless of the fire risk!
A lot of the graffiti in the garderobes may have had a protective function (apotropaic markings). Evil spirits were thought to enter buildings through openings - in this case, up the toilet shaft. Both the fleur-de-lys (associated with the Virgin Mary) and these daisy wheels and circular compass patterns were believed to ward off evil. By carving them in these spaces people could be kept safe while using the loo!
The king's apartments took up half of the Castle, which shows how important he was
Chapel altar faces south-east and not dead east towards the religious capital of Jerusalem. This could be because the altar needed to be built in a semi-circle, and it may have been easier to do this on a corner than along a straight wall

Additional historical sources

Gaol, 1345-1822

Place where suspects were held before trials, and where debtors were held
Suspects had to pay for everything - food, bedding, clothes, etc. Conditions were horrendous as everyone was held together (men, women, children, suspects of minor and major crimes, etc), the food was very basic, flooding took place, there was no central heating and there were rats. This shows no-one thought suspects were worth looking after
Punishment for many crimes was hanging, which was done outside of the Castle to crowds of thousands. The use of public executions demonstrates that the government thought capital punishment was a good idea which would deter people from committing crimes, while the people saw hangings as entertainment
John Howard's 1777 report highlighted the conditions in gaols around the country

Additional historical sources

Prison, 1822-1888

New gaol buildings were built in 1789-94 but were too small, so they were demolished. Another set of buildings and a courtroom were erected in 1822-27, incorporating the most up-to-date systems of prison management and trials: gaoler's house in the middle with cell blocks and exercise yards radiating out from it so he could 'oversee' the prison and be a source of inspiration to his prisoners; spiral staircase and tunnel linking the prison with the courtroom
From 1820s, prison became a punishment in itself. Hanging was only for murder and treason
Norwich used the silent system (where prisoners aren't allowed to speak to each other) until 1850 when they employed the separate system instead. The silent system kept prisoners apart - they only left cells for religious services and exercises
Prisoners were punished with hard labour and boring, repetitive and sometime unnecessary work. For example, they might have to work on the treadmill, which was used to first grind corn and then later to pump water around the prison. Once the water system was full, the treadmill switched to compressing air
A schoolroom was located in the current shop area. Norwich was one of the first prisons to have a school master to teach the prisoners reading, writing and some kind of skill. This demonstrates that the gaoler believed in rehabilitation of prisoners
Hangings were public until 1868, but public executions did not terrify people into keeping the law
After execution, a murderer's body would be buried within the Castle walls with a simple stone slab with the person's initials and year of execution on it

Additional historical sources

Museum, 1887-present

Victorians were great collectors and wanted to show others their curiosities, e.g. porcelain, books, minerals and geological specimens
Museum won £12m from Heritage Lottery Fund for refurbishment in 2001, which shows how important the museum is
Museum awarded £27.5m, majority funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Norfolk County Council, for redeveloping the Keep and visitor spaces, 2020-25

Additional historical sources

L - How the physical remains may prompt questions about the past and how historians frame these as valid historical enquiries

Who built it? Who changed it? Who used it?
What is it? What changes has it seen? What was it used for?
When was it built? When was it changed? When was it used?
Why was it built? Why was it changed? Why was it used?
How was it built? How was it changed? How was it used? How much did it cost to build/change?
Where was it built? Where was it changed? Where did the people who used it come from?

M - How the physical remains can inform artistic reconstructions and other interpretations of the site

N - The challenges and benefits of studying the historic environment

Benefits

Gives a sense of place, well-being and cultural identity
Defines and enhances a connection of people to a place, such as regional and local distinctiveness
Stimulating and life-enhancing way to engage with history

Challenges

Difficult to interpret due to lack of sources and evidence
Different interpretations of the same site
Lack of written sources
Uncertainty surrounding the layout of the building due to alterations and redevelopments
Arguments over redevelopments - should historic sites be left as they are or should they be restored to their former glories?

Additional historical sources

What strange items have been dug up from under Norwich Castle's mound?