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 The
recently revamped castle museum, sits in its lofty position
overlooking Norwich's main city centre. The original castle
documented as far back as 1075 was made of timber, this structure was then
rebuilt by the Normans into a Royal palace. During the 14th century
the castle was turned into a prison and a became a place of many
executions before finally being turned into a museum in 1894. After a
facelift in the 21st century costing around £11.8 million pounds the museum
has been totally re-vamped and now opens its doors to the public as a place
that all the family can enjoy.
Open Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 5.00pm
Sunday 2.00pm to 5.00pm
School half-term and Easter holidays Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 6.00pm
Sunday 12noon to 5.00pm
School summer holidays Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 7.00pm
Sunday 12noon to 5.00pm
Some of the things to be enjoyed
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- The Norman Keep is extremely atmospheric, computerised recreations called
' Televirtual' bring the Norman Keep to life with 3-D computer images,
played on four gas plasma screens. You can also watch videos of historical
personalities from the past in full costume.
- A display of Birds in their natural habitat with 3-d effects and bird
calls. A room stuffed (and we do mean stuffed) full of British Birds.
A wildlife gallery and mammal gallery in large bright and airy display
cases.
- Egyptian Gallery – Complete with his and her mummies. One of them Ankh
Hor, a high priest from the Temple of Amun at Karnak, dead for 3000 years
residing in a beautifully painted burial case. Also an x-ray taken of
Ankh Hor at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital which revealed that he may have
been unwrapped by the Victorians, as the x-ray shows that there are 19th
century pins holding his bandages in place. Lots of other Egyptian
artefacts.
- Boudica gallery - which tells the story of the Warrior Queen of the Iceni.
As you enter the display note the morphing pictures of Boudicca as depicted
by various artists. There is also the opportunity to ride in a full-size
chariot with an interactive video and to watch and listen to a video of a
character from that time.
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Listen to the voices of prisoners kept in the castle depths.
- Porcelain and teapot gallery
- Art displays which are changed regularly
- Throw a coin down a very, very deep well and listen to the sound of it
dropping with enhanced acoustics. Popular with both adults and kids!!.
- The Snettisham collection - this treasure was found in Snettisham and
includes golden torcs (neck ornaments)
- Various Art Galleries, A 17th century Dutch Gallery; an 18th Century
English Country House Gallery; a 19th Century Victorian Picture Gallery and
a 20th Century East Anglian landscape painters gallery.
- You can have a guided tour of the Battlements with fantastic views over
Norwich, but make certain you check the times before you explore the rest of
the museum.
- Find if any of your family are on the 1914-1919 Norwich Roll of Honour for
citizens who fell in the Great War.
- A silver room as well as Sculptures in glass and pottery.
- Large canteen as well as a picnic room.
There is a four price structure, enabling you to decide
if you want to see all or only part of the museum.
Good access for the disabled, with lifts available, and very child-friendly
with lots of interactive activities and touchy-feely things for children to
do. A good visitor centre for dry days or wet.
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