Castle dungeon to reopen following mould clearance

Norwich Castle's dungeon will be open to visitors from early spring after the clearance of mould.

The Norman structure reopened in August after a multimillion-pound five-year restoration programme, but the dungeon remained shut off to the public.

A spokesperson for Norfolk Museums Service said damp and lack of airflow was believed to be the reason behind the mould.

"The area has now been fully and professionally cleaned with improvements made to prevent further issues," they said.

The museums service added it was preparing a brand-new tour for visitors.

The castle was built by the Normans using limestone shipped from France and it hosted King Henry I for Christmas in 1121, before being used as a prison for at least 500 years.

In 1884 it opened as a museum and the Victorians made a number of additions.

The revamp included restoring original floor levels in the Grade I-listed keep, re-creating the Great Hall and creating step-free access from the basement to the rooftop battlements.

Work began in 2020 but there were delays caused by the Covid pandemic and rising costs.

Workers also uncovered hidden Norman and Victorian features that had to be preserved, meaning the reopening date was pushed back further.

The Royal Palace Reborn project has cost £27.5m - about £7.5m more than the original estimate.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.