Norfolk Museums Service has received earmarked funding* from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Norwich Castle: Gateway to Medieval England project.
An initial development grant of £462,400 will be a major boost to the multi-million pound plan to transform Norwich Castle’s iconic Keep into one of the region’s premier heritage attractions. A further £8.7 million has been earmarked towards the project and a second application for the full grant will be made at a later date.
In the medieval period Norwich Castle was one of the most important buildings across the whole of Europe and, architecturally, it was one of the most elaborate of the great Romanesque keeps. The project aims to re-present the historic Keep as it appeared during its heyday under the great Norman kings. Visitors will be able to engage fully with the building through greater access, exciting new displays and innovative learning and event programmes.
Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of King Henry I’s lavish Castle by exploring the recreated Great Hall, complete with a banqueting table and minstrels’ gallery, King’s chamber and chapel. Newly-exposed Norman archaeology and architecture will tell previously untold stories of the Castle’s fascinating past and a unique battlements experience will offer stunning views of medieval and present-day Norwich.
A unique form of partnership with the British Museum will bring national medieval treasures to Norfolk, displayed alongside exquisite artefacts from Norwich Castle’s own medieval collection, in a new British Museum Gallery of the Medieval Period.
The initial grant from the HLF provides development funding to help Norfolk Museums Service progress these ambitious plans and undertake a major public fundraising campaign. This first award will enable a programme of study to record, interpret and understand the Keep fully, as well as identify essential repairs and conservation work. In terms of energy efficiency, the project aims to bring the latest environmentally sustainable technologies into the building ensuring it is fit for the 21st century.
Commenting on the award, Cllr George Nobbs, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “This is probably the greatest moment in the history of the Castle since it opened as a Museum in 1894.It is the result of many years of work by so many people who struggled to bring this day about. It’s not only about the £462,400 – that’s just the first stage which we hope will unlock another £8.7m that the HLF has already earmarked for this project.
“It fulfils a dream shared by generations of local people to bring the much-loved Castle back to life as it was when it was a young building – the palace of a king.It was the vision of the Museum’s original architect Edward Boardman, at the end of the 19th century, and it now looks like it is becoming a reality.
“It is a huge tribute to Steve Miller and his brilliant team. ‘Jewel in the Crown’ is an overworked term but in their case, and the Castle’s, it’s the only one that does them justice!”
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber and Trustee of the Norfolk Museum Development Foundation said: ” This the news that we have all been waiting for which will put Norwich even more firmly on the map. There is a lot of hard work for us all to do to transform the Keep but I have no doubt together we will be successful”
Cllr Alan Waters, Leader of Norwich City Council, said: “Norwich City Council is thrilled that this important development will be going forward. Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery is a treasure for our local schools and communities as well as a major asset in terms of the City’s visitor economy. This project will further establish Norwich as a key cultural tourism destination and we are certain that this project will be a huge success.”
Robyn Llewellyn, Head of HLF East of England, said: “Norwich Castle is one of Europe’s most spectacular medieval keeps and home to a wonderful historical collection.
We are recognising its potential by funding a range of plans to enhance the museum’s existing displays and creating a complementary British Museum Gallery of the Medieval Period.We’ve earmarked £9.2m towards the project and will be working closely with Norfolk Museums Service over the coming months to help them produce a first-class visitor attraction.Whilst it’s early days, it’s never too soon to also express our gratitude to National Lottery players for making this work possible.”
Dr Jonathan Williams, Deputy Director of the British Museum, said: “Our partnership with Norfolk Museums Service is one of our most valued relationships. We are particularly pleased that objects from the British Museum collection will form part of the new displays in the rejuvenated Castle Keep. The British Museum Gallery of the Medieval Period will be the first permanent gallery presence for the British Museum in the East of England. The British Museum is committed to working in partnership with museums across the UK to ensure the collection is seen by the widest possible public.”
The revitalised Keep, displayed and interpreted as a Norman royal palace, is expected to open to the public by 2020. It will provide a state of the art events venue alongside a new corporate hire offer.
Educational and skills development programmes are planned to run throughout the duration of the building works (anticipated to start in 2018) and will continue well beyond the lifetime of the project. Training will be provided to volunteers and staff, including apprentices, internship students and trainees, so that they can care for the building and its collections and ensure that they are made as accessible as possible to the local community. Extensive archives relating to the Castle’s long and distinguished history will be fully digitised, allowing online public access for the very first time.
Norwich’s Grade 1 Listed stone Keep was constructed around 1100 during the reign of Henry I. By the 13th century the Castle had lost its importance as a military stronghold and its main function became that of the County Gaol. It continued in use as a prison for 600 years until 1887. The Keep and prison buildings were then purchased by the City and Norwich Castle Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1894.
Today, Norwich Castle remains one of the most visually striking buildings in the City skyline. The range and quality of its Designated collections, together with its specialist staff, reinforce Norwich Castle’s status and role of regional and national pre-eminence. Yet while the impressive exterior views continue to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, the interior fails to convey its original splendour. Norwich Castle: Gateway to Medieval England will address this issue, providing an unforgettable visitor experience worthy of the building’s fascinating 900-year history.
