How Norwich Castle keep is being transformed in major revamp

The unexpected discovery of hidden Norman and Victorian features, plus the need to replace a leaking roof, have set back the schedule for the full reopening of the 900-year-old building.

The original floor levels of Norwich Castle's keep have been restored, to reflect how it would have looked in Norman times (Image: Denise Bradley)

Work on the £20m redevelopment of the museum and its Norman keep, called Royal Palace Reborn, started in summer 2020.

Norwich Castle (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

The project had been affected by the Covid pandemic and difficulties obtaining steel because of the war in Ukraine.

There had been hopes visitors would be back in the keep, revamped to represent how it looked during its Norman heyday, this summer.

But what museum chiefs described as "unexpected discoveries" have pushed back the timetable.

Because the building is a Grade I-listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, special permission needs to be obtained before work affecting the original fabric of the building can take place.

And Dr Robin Hanley, assistant head of museums at Norfolk Museums Service, has revealed more details about the challenges architects and contractors Morgan Sindall have had to overcome.

Edward Boardman (Image: Courtesy of Shirley Place)

In the 1880s, architect Edward Boardman - who also designed How Hill House, the refurbishment of the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the former Royal Hotel in Agricultural Hall Plain and the former Caley's chocolate factory - was brought in to convert the building, which had been used as a prison, into a museum.

During work to put in new rooms and doorways, Dr Hanley said construction teams had come across examples of where Boardman had "camouflaged" earlier features.

That included the discovery of a Victorian prison grille, which Boardman had bricked up, and a Victorian period door arch.

The Victorian prison-era grille which was discovered in Norwich Castle (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

In the keep, builders also found what appears to be part of a Norman blind arcade - a decorative feature - close to where a doorway is due to be created to enable accessible access.

The discovery of a suspected Norman blind arcade has caused a delay to the work at Norwich Castle (Image: Denise Bradley)

Dr Hanley said: "We have come across a number of instances where the Victorian architect came across a problem and simply camouflaged it.

"That has meant we have had to rethink how we were going to do things, while recording and preserving those features."

A staircase at the former entrance of the museum has been moved to replicate the original access to Norwich Castle's keep (Image: Denise Bradley)

In the case of the blind arcade feature, a test sample of the wall had been taken, which had not revealed the Norman structure. Only when the brick facing was removed did it come to light.

Dr Hanley said the new doorway needs to be wide enough to comply with access requirements for people in wheelchairs, so discussions are ongoing as to how to solve the issue.

He said: "We are liaising with the city council's conservation officer to come up with a solution which will enable us to protect as much of the feature as possible, while giving us the width for the access that we need."

Dr Robin Hanley, assistant head of museums at Norfolk Museums Service, Matt Bidewell, Morgan Sindall senior contracts manager and Hannah Jackson, Norwich Castle: Royal Palace Reborn project manager (Image: Denise Bradley)

A further delay was caused because a section of the old roof over the Percival Wing, which includes the new ticket office, shop, cafe and learning space, was found to have a small leak.

New learning space at Norwich Castle (Image: Denise Bradley)

The original plan had been to keep the existing roof, but it was decided to replace it, rather than risk damage to the revamped area below.

A new glass roof reveals previously concealed views of the keep at Norwich Castle (Image: Denise Bradley)

The museum has remained open and welcomed 120,000 visitors last year. But bosses are looking forward to the opening of the Percival Wing, which includes a new entrance to the castle and a glass roof providing previously concealed views of the keep.

A visualisation of a new bridge that will provide direct level access to the principal floor of Norwich Castle keep, revealing currently hidden views of the Bigod Tower and east façade of the keep (Image: Feilden + Mawson)

That wing is due to open this summer. But, while construction work in the keep should come to an end this summer, no date has been put on when that will be reopened.

Work in the keep at Norwich Castle (Image: Denise Bradley)

REVAMP REVEALED

The revamp includes restoring the original floor levels in the keep, with a recreated Great Hall and royal apartments of the Norman kings.

How the revamped Great Hall in Norwich's Castle Keep could look (Image: Haley Sharpe Design)

Two new lifts and a bridge will make the battlements fully accessible to all visitors, while a new medieval gallery will feature world-class objects loaned from the British Museum.

A visualisation of the new look battlements at Norwich Castle (Image: © COPYRIGHT FEILDEN+MAWSON LLP)

Dr Hanley said: "It is going to be a fantastic experience for visitors - for those who visit in the daytime and those who attend events here in the evenings.

"I know a lot of people are desperate to get back in to see what we have done and we are desperate to get them in."

A new lift will take visitors to Norwich Castle on to the battlements (Image: Denise Bradley)