General timeline of Norwich Castle

Question 1

Royal Palace - 1094

Answer 1

Work begins on the stone keep. A new earthwork is made to support its weight. Limestone from Caen is shipped as the building material.

Question 2

Royal Palace - 1100

Answer 2

William II dies, but Henry I continues work on the keep.

Question 3

Royal Palace - 1121

Answer 3

Stone keep completed. Henry stays at the keep this year for Christmas (high profile).

Question 4

Royal Palace - 1121-1300s

Answer 4

The castle and keep serve as a centre of royal residence and legal/financial rule over the region.

Question 5

County Gaol - 1345

Answer 5

The Castle’s role as a royal palace is dropped and instead is used as a gaol.

Question 6

County Gaol - 1776

Answer 6

John Howard visits the castle and describes it as ‘remarkably good’, however there are a few inches of water in the dungeon .

Question 7

Prison - 1792-3

Answer 7

The gaol is re-built by John Soane with a cell block in the keep. The keep is kept roofless.

Question 8

Prison - 1822-8

Answer 8

William Wilkins wins a competition to redesign the prison after it is deemed unfit for use. Has radiating separate wings and a central gaoler’s house (like Pentonville).

Question 9

Prison - 1822

Answer 9

Courtroom is built.

Question 10

Prison - 1834-9

Answer 10

Keep is refaced with Bath stone, replacing the flint lower part. Romanesque architecture maintained but it looks different from the original.

Question 11

Prison - 1848

Answer 11

James Rush murders and trial. Attracts 30,000 spectators.

Question 12

Prison - 1884

Answer 12

Prison is moved to Mousehold Heath.

Question 13

Museum - 1885-6

Answer 13

John Gurney, Mayor of Norwich, donates £5000 to mover the Norfolk and Norwich museum from St Andrew’s street (our top boy) to the Castle.

Question 14

Museum - 1888

Answer 14

Edward Boardman submits plans to convert the castle from a gaol to a museum. This process then begins.

Question 15

Museum - 1894

Answer 15

Museum is opened by the Duke and Duchess of York, later the King and Queen.

Question 16

Museum - 1950

Answer 16

Two new art galleries are built

Two which Ryan Hurrell was very pleased with when he visited.

Question 17

Museum - 1969

Answer 17

The central Rotunda (hall) is introduced with a new open courtyard and garden to unify the museum and facilities.

Question 18

Museum - 1999-2001

Answer 18

A major repair program is undertaken and the museum is reopened by Lizzy II.

Question 19

Museum - 2016

Answer 19

Major support by the National Lottery Fund means that the castle can be restored to its former medieval form.

Question 20

Museum - 2017-now

Answer 20

Plans for a remodelled keep and castle are underway.