Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is located in Norwich, England. A wooden fort once sat on this site until work began on a stone keep in 1094 by King William II, and was completed in 1121 by William’s brother, King Henry I. The medieval keep was built as a royal palace, although there weren’t any Norman kings who lived there. The castle was built from limestone shipped from France. The upper level of the castle is divided into two sections, one side holds the Great Hall and the other side holds the royal quarters with a large parlor, bedrooms, and a private chapel. There is a walkway within the outer walls where soldiers once patrolled the building. The castle was used as a prison in the 14thcentury, and a new prison was erected inside and around the keep in 1792-93. Due to deterioration, the exterior of the castle was resurfaced in 1834 and 1839. In 1883, the prison was moved and work began to convert the castle into a museum. The museum opened in 1883 and boasts a small Egyptian Gallery, Anglo-Saxon objects, the history of the castle, Fine arts from the 17ththrough the 20thcenturies, Roman curiosities, which includes a collection of Iron Age gold and silver neck rings, and much more. The museum offers a study center, a café, a shop, and guided tours.
