Keep up to date about Norwich Castle

When will the Keep open?

We can't currently confirm an opening date for the Keep. We're working hard with our partners to finalise the opening schedule.

Construction work is due to be completed in late 2024. We're hoping to welcome visitors into some areas of the Keep before the end of this year. We're planning to complete the project and fully open the Keep in early 2025.

The reason we can't announce opening date yet is because of the complexity of the construction works being carried out. We're updating this page as the project progresses and will announce the opening date as soon as we can. You can also sign up to our museums newsletter to stay up to date.

Norwich Castle is a very sensitive Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument. It has been in constant occupancy for over 900 years. We're proud to take care of this iconic Norman building. We will ensure that the finished development and interpretation does it justice.

Throughout the project, the building has continued to reveal its secrets and sensitivities.

Unexpected discoveries

During the project, we've discovered previously unrecorded historic features. Some of these discoveries have resulted in changes to our proposed designs. This is so we can make sure unique features are preserved for the future. It can lead to delays as our teams make sure the features are accurately recorded and carefully preserved.

Discoveries made during the project include:

• Prison-era architectural remains below the floor of the Victorian entrance. This required extensive excavation and relocation of the four steel piles which support the first floor above. These historic features were not picked up by the ground-penetrating radar we used before starting construction.
• A prison-era opening with original iron grille still in place. We discovered this during building works next to the Percival Wing, hidden behind a single layer of bricks. This meant we had to modify our plans for the steel piles in this area which support the floor above. After recording the grille for the museum archives, we were able to preserve it and brick it back in.
• The jamb of a Norman opening or niche. This is behind Victorian stonework in the spine wall of the Keep at the mezzanine level in the Great Hall. We discovered this when creating a new doorway which will provide level access to the mezzanine from the new lift and staircase. We're working with the conservation office and architects to find a solution which will:
  • Give us the width of doorway we need for access, and
  • Preserve as much of the Norman masonry as possible
• Openings and features in prison walls, remains of wells, heating systems and drainage

You can read more about the prison-era remains on our Norwich Castle blog.

Remedial work and sensitivities

We have had to carry out some remedial works on the building which we could only identify after starting construction.

There have also been some delays to the final stages of construction works where these join very sensitive parts of the historic structure. For example, the design of the glazed floor that meets the Norman structure on the British Museum Partnership Gallery level.

In each case, we have taken the time necessary to make sure that any changes to the planned works minimise the impact on the historic structure. This work has involved our construction, design, and curatorial teams.