Natural history galleries

The galleries focus on the collectors, curators, and other specialists who brought these outstanding collections together. They include a collection of scientific equipment used in the study of the natural world - both historical and modern.

Visitor favourites include:

• The enormous and imposing polar bear
• The Fountaine-Neimy collection of butterflies
• A rare specimen of the extinct great auk

Look for the hidden jokes, the lizard with the wooden leg, and the aptly named bum nut!

The natural history galleries are on the ground floor.

Ted Ellis Diorama Gallery

This gallery is home to the Ted Ellis dioramas. These realistic and highly detailed 3D scenes depict a range of Norfolk habitats. Can you spot a hedgehog ambling through the autumn leaves, or fluffy coot chicks hiding in the reeds?

Ted Ellis was a pioneering Norfolk naturalist and a former natural history curator at Norwich Castle.

Bird Gallery

The bird gallery contains examples of nearly every species found in Britain. Most of these date from the 19th century. Like a 3D bird book, it groups specimens by bird family. This provides a fascinating overview of our rich native bird population.

See more of our natural history collections

Only a small percentage of the natural history collections are on display. Most are kept in stores where they are protected from dust, light, and pests.

You can see more at the Norwich Castle Study Centre by appointment. Email museums@norfolk.gov.uk to arrange a visit.

You can also read more about our natural history collections on the Norfolk Museums Collections website.