Norwich Castle, Norfolk Overview

Built by the Normans in the 11th century, Norwich Castle was designed to be a royal palace. While it never served its original purpose, in the thousand years since its construction the castle has been used variously as a military fort, a county jail and, most recently, a museum.  Today, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is home to collections of fine art, archaeology and natural history, as well as touring exhibitions from national galleries.

Permanent collections

As the principal museum in Norfolk, Norwich Castle houses the world's greatest collections of Norwich silver, Lowestoft porcelain and work by the Norwich School of artists. The museums Anglo Saxon and Viking exhibits, which include a gallery and a reconstruction of an Anglo-Saxon grave site, are accompanied by displays ranging from Egyptian tombs to contemporary design.

Art Funded works

William Hogarth's Francis Matthew Schutz in his Bed was commissioned by Schutz's wife, Susan, as a lesson against intemperance. The original painting depicted Schutz vomiting into a chamber pot, but this was overpainted by an unknown artist when it was felt Schutz's heirs would find the portrayal disrespectful.

Visitor information

If you're feeling thirsty after a walk through the Twining Teapot Gallery, the museum's café serves drinks, snacks and lunches, with a range of salads, sandwiches and hot meals available. There is also a Picnic Room with hot drinks and a gift shop stocking a wide range of gifts, souvernirs and publications.