Norwich Castle Flashcards
When was Norwich castle used as a royal palace?
1067-1345
When was Norwich Castle used as a gaol?
1345-1822
When was Norwich castle used as a museum?
1884-present day
situated:
strategically at the end of a natural escarpment (steep slope), which lies to the south along the river
At the foot of the escarpment:
runs the major route to the well-established Saxon town of Norwich from the south
When was the Norman castle used as a gaol?
from 1345 to 1822
Who was John Howard?
A prison reformer who visited in 1776 when the gaol became overcrowded.
He wrote a report to Parliament in 1777, highlighting the terrible conditions in gaols around the country
When and where were the new prison buildings built?
built in 1822 around the north and east walls - had the most space on the mound
What was built at the bottom of the mound in 1822 which was linked to the prison via a spiral staircase and tunnel for prisoner access?
courtroom
What is the castle now a symbol of for local people?
civic and cultural pride
How did the new Norman king William I impose his power on a Saxon population in 1067?
by building castles like Norwich Castle
What type of castle is Norwich castle and why was this type chosen?
Motte and bailey - steep mound surrounded by deep, defensive, dry ditches and baileys (open spaces between ditches) to make it difficult fo the enemy to reach
Who loaned the Castle and sold the castle fee to the city in 1345?
Edward III
What did the castle become in 1345?
the county gaol
what was the castle a symbol of when first built?
The king’s power and military might
What was the Bigod Tower?
an elaborate carved archway and a waiting room to the keep’s Great Hall
What was the great hall or norwich castle originally used for?
the keep’s Great Hall (half of the current balcony floor level) was where people met, ate, slept, etc. There was also a small kitchen, a mezzanine floor for musicians and garderobes (toilets)
One half of the current balcony floor level used to be the keep’s great hall, what was the other half of the floor?
the King’s private apartments - bedrooms for himself and the queen, a fireplace, sin, a room with the top of the well in it, and chapel
What was the only other floor in the keep - besides the great hall and king’s apartments - and what was it used for?
the basement which was used for storing food, drink, fuel, weapons, etc
Why did Edward III sell the fee and loan the building to the city in 1345?
he couldn’t afford the upkeep of the building and the roof was starting to collapse
Who did the keep house when it first became a gaol?
prisoners awaiting trials, plus debtors
Who designed and built a new prison block around the keep in 1792-3?
Architect Sir John Soane
What happened to Sir John Soane’s buildings around the keep?
They were demolished in the 1820s because they were too small
Another new gaol designed by W______ W______ was built around the keep in ____
- William Wilkins
- 1822
What was built along with William Wilkins’ new design?
a courtroom at the bottom of the mound
Who refaced the castle with Bath limestone and in what year?
Architect Anthony Salvin in 1834-9
Why was the gaol moved to Mousehold heath in 1883?
due to lack of space
in what year did the process of converting the prison buildings into a museum begin?
1883
which Norwich architect was comissioned to convert the keep and prison into a museum?
Edward Boardman
How much was the Heritage Lotery refurbishment in 2001 and what was added?
£12million - art galleries
What was the castle initially used for?
royal palace
What were the baileys originally used for?
grazing livestock and housing the industries and dwellings associated with the Castle, e.g. main kitchens, blacksmith, armourer, prison
What is the difference between a gaol and a prison?
gaol is where suspects are held before trial, prison is where convicted criminals are held as punishment
What did the new prison building in 1822 means?
different types of prisoners could be kept in different blocks, with each prisoner having their own cell
What was between prison blocks?
exercise yards
What were the biggest and finest early collections of?
natural history, particularly birds
the museum is now home to historical collections from…
Ancient Egypt, Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods
Who spent Christmas at the castle in 1121?
Henry I