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BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Norwich Castle's public reopening date is confirmed after revamp
The completion of a five-year renovation of a city centre castle has been confirmed with a date for its reopening to the started at Norwich Castle in the summer of 2020 but was delayed by issues including the Covid pandemic and difficulties sourcing building problems contributed to the cost of the Royal Palace Reborn project rising to £27.5m, from the initial estimate of £ Norfolk County Council has confirmed that visitors will be able to see the 900-year-old building's new look from Thursday, 7 August. The project's contractor had previously told the BBC that the work would be completed by the end of was also delayed by the discovery of hidden Norman and Victorian features, alongside a need to replace a leaking revamp includes restoring original floor levels in the Grade I listed keep and recreating the great hall and the apartments of Norman kings.A Norfolk Museums Service spokesperson said: "We're incredibly excited to announce that Norwich Castle's Royal Palace will open on 7 August 2025."Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the redevelopment project Norwich Castle: Royal Palace Reborn has received £13m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and support from Norfolk County Council."The keep has been completely reimagined as part of the project, bringing Norman England vividly back to life." The county council provided funds of £4.7m last year, in addition to previous increases to the budget.A new gallery of Medieval life is being created in partnership with the British Museum, which will see about 1,000 artefacts go on Museums Service also believes the castle will now be "the UK's most accessible" as there will be step-free access from the basement up to the rooftop visitor facilities, including a glass atrium and a new shop, cafe and learning space, opened last year as part of the booking for tickets will open on Thursday 24 July, with priority booking opening a week earlier for those with a Norfolk Museums Pass. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Norwich castle confirms summer opening after years of delays
Renovations to Norwich Castle Museum are due to end, almost two years after a projected finish date. Work to refurbish the castle's Norman keep began in 2020 but was held up by the pandemic. Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology, confirmed the finishing touches were being carried out and objects were ready to be installed in the museum for a summer 2025 opening. "It has been an absolute marathon," he said. Dr Pestell said the castle was only two months away from reopening. "We will open this summer. We are on the final stretch," he said."The display cases are nearly all in now. We have builders doing their tidying up work, ready to come out, and we have the objects ready to be installed. They are being pinned on their backing boards." The project has faced many delays, including some caused by the Covid-19 were problems in obtaining steel, due to the war in Ukraine. In March 2022, the project's contractor Morgan Sindall told the BBC work would be completed by the end of 2023, but more problems arose. Hidden Norman and Victorian features were discovered and a leaking roof needed to be replaced, causing it to miss a revised target of reopening last summer. Named Royal Palace Reborn, the project has included restoring the original floor levels in the keep and recreating the great hall and the apartments of Norman kings. A new gallery of medieval life was also part of the castle has just acquired what is believed to be the largest collection of 7th Century gold coins found in Britain. The collection includes 129 coins, featuring 118 different designs, that were found by two metal detectorists in a west Norfolk field between 2014 and 2020. Dr Pestell said: "It will be an incredible relief to see that open. It has been an absolute marathon, as it has been for all of the members of our team, but it's going to be amazing. "It's going to be well, well worth the wait." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
