Norwich Castle keep revamp reopening delayed again

Museum bosses hoped the transformation of the Norman landmark - recreating what it would have looked like in medieval times - would be completed this spring.

But, while construction work by Morgan Sindall should soon be finished, the official opening of the Royal Palace Reborn project has been pushed back until the summer, with a firm date yet to be announced.

Museum chiefs said they needed extra time to apply the finishing touches to newly-recreated Norman rooms, which will show visitors how the 12th-century keep looked when it was a royal palace.

How the revamped great hall in Norwich's Castle keep could look (Image: Haley Sharpe Design) Curators also need to organise displays of more than 900 objects in the new Gallery of Medieval Life, created in partnership with the British Museum.

However, some lucky visitors will get an early glimpse of the ambitious project, with Norfolk County Council planning sneak previews via a ticket ballot.

Museum bosses say that ballot will be available as a thank you to "key supporters" who helped make the project possible, including members of the public and museum passholders.

They say the extra time will also allow museum staff to understand more about the visitor experience and ensure everything is ready for the big opening.

READ MORE: Norwich Castle revamp hits milestone as new entrance opens

Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for communities and partnerships (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

Margaret Dewsbury, Conservative-controlled County Hall's cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said: "With the handover from our construction partners, Morgan Sindall, in sight, we are reaching the exciting final few months of this remarkable project.

"It’s been an incredible journey so far, and we are thrilled to be moving onto the next stage when we can start to recreate the rich atmosphere of a Norman royal palace with all the decorative elements that Henry I would have enjoyed when he visited Norwich Castle in 1121.

"We look forward to welcoming our first visitors into the recreated Norman rooms in the spring, with the full opening to the general public in the summer."

Work to revamp Norwich Castle's keep started in 2020 (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

Work started in summer 2020, with an ambition to reopen the keep in 2022.

But the scheme has been hit by setbacks, including the Covid pandemic and difficulties obtaining steel because of the war in Ukraine.

Previously hidden views of Norwich Castle's keep have been revealed (Image: Denise Bradley)

The price tag, initially estimated at £13.5m and primarily funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, rose to £27.5m amid delays.