Norwich Castle was built by the Normans almost 900 years ago, during the 12th century. For the construction of the castle an artificial mound was made, using soil from nearby ditch that had an elevation of about 40 feet. The castle built on this mound was originally a timber structure following the mote and bailey building style. Though the structure was built as a Royal Palace, it served as a prison since the 14th century. However, it was converted into a museum in 1894. The crest of Castle Mound, in the heart of Norwich, marks the location of Norwich Castle.
Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is known for an extensive collection of exhibits of national significance. The collection includes fascinating works of fine art, natural history, the biggest collection of ceramic teapots in the world and the best paintings by the Norwich School of Artists. On entering the castle through the Bigod Arch, which is the main access to the Royal Palace, visitors will come across intricate stone carvings. There is a special exhibit at the museum that shows life in the castle, during the times when it served as a prison.
The following are the main galleries of Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery:
- Anglo-Saxons and Vikings Gallery: This gallery narrates the lifestyle, which was prevalent in East Anglia after the disintegration of the Roman Empire. In this gallery, visitors can see some excellent collection of jewelry, the well-known Bathilde seal and Thor's Hammer of gold.
- The Egyptian Gallery: This gallery creates an ambiance of an Egyptian tomb along with its mummies.
- The Boudica Gallery: This gallery narrates in details the life of East Anglia's Queen Boudica as well as her Iceni tribe. The best attractions of this section are the gold neck bands that are more than 2000 years old and the extraordinary exhibits of Iceni treasure.
- The Art Gallery: This gallery brings alive the rich artistic traditions of East Anglia displaying paintings ranging from 17th to 20th centuries. The galleries house some of the most acclaimed works of Norwich School artists like John Sell Cotman and John Crome. Besides, the gallery also displays wide array of contemporary British paintings and Dutch sceneries.
Norwich Castle in Britain has a minimum entrance fee that is different for a child and an adult. Concessions are also provided to disabled visitors, students and to senior citizens. For adults, the price ranges from £4.45 to £6.50, while for children the range is £3.25-£4.75. The concession tickets cost £3.80-£5.50.
The timings of Norwich Castle are also flexible. From Monday to Friday, the castle remains open from 10:00 hours to 16:30 hours; whereas on Saturdays, it is open from 10:00 hours to 17:00 hours. For Sunday the time is 13:00 hours to 17:00 hours. However, during the school holidays and festive seasons, the time of closure of the Norwich castle is extended. The castle remains closed from 23-26 December and on 1st January every year.
