
Norwich Castle's public reopening date is confirmed after revamp
The project's contractor had previously told the BBC that the work would be completed by the end of 2023.Construction was also delayed by the discovery of hidden Norman and Victorian features, alongside a need to replace a leaking roof.The revamp includes restoring original floor levels in the Grade I listed keep and recreating the great hall and the apartments of Norman kings.A Norfolk Museums Service spokesperson said: "We're incredibly excited to announce that Norwich Castle's Royal Palace will open on 7 August 2025."Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the redevelopment project Norwich Castle: Royal Palace Reborn has received £13m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and support from Norfolk County Council."The keep has been completely reimagined as part of the project, bringing Norman England vividly back to life."
The county council provided funds of £4.7m last year, in addition to previous increases to the budget.A new gallery of Medieval life is being created in partnership with the British Museum, which will see about 1,000 artefacts go on display.Norfolk Museums Service also believes the castle will now be "the UK's most accessible" as there will be step-free access from the basement up to the rooftop battlements.Upgraded visitor facilities, including a glass atrium and a new shop, cafe and learning space, opened last year as part of the project.General booking for tickets will open on Thursday 24 July, with priority booking opening a week earlier for those with a Norfolk Museums Pass.
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
12 minutes ago
- Reuters
'Superman' returns to screens with 'kindness, flying dogs and space battles'
LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - Donning the famous red cape for the first time in the new "Superman" movie gave actor David Corenswet a big confidence boost. A relative newcomer, Corenswet follows in the footsteps of Christopher Reeve and more recently Henry Cavill, taking over the role of Clark Kent and Superman in the reboot movie, which was launched with a red carpet fan event in London on Wednesday. "When the cape gets on, it really ties the whole thing together. You walk out with it flowing behind you, you feel like, 'Yeah, I'm all right, I'll do okay'," Corenswet, whose acting credits include TV series "The Politician" and "Hollywood" and films "Twisters" and "Pearl", said on the red carpet. "Superman" offers the first look at director James Gunn's vision for the remake of the DC Universe (DCU) at Warner Bros (WBD.O), opens new tab. The "Guardians of the Galaxy" filmmaker, who also wrote the "Superman" screenplay, said he wanted to combine elements from the comic books and the mythos of Superman in cinema. "My 'Superman' is about, you know, in a world where there's so much meanness and so many petty things happening, Superman, who can often be seen as old-fashioned or too earnest, too kind, he is those things. I think that's the most rebellious thing that you can be in this day and age," Gunn said. "It's a movie about kindness. But it's all told in this universe with giant monsters and flying dogs and robots and space battles and everything else." "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" actress Rachel Brosnahan takes on the role of Lois Lane and "Nosferatu", "About a Boy" and "X-Men" franchise actor Nicholas Hoult stars as Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor. Hoult also drew inspiration from comic books for his portrayal of the iconic villain. "For instance, reading 'All-Star Superman', Lex really prides himself on being the peak alpha human, and so I really wanted to bring that kind of energy," Hoult said. Brosnahan said her predecessors in the role had set the bar high. Gunn's vision for the movie was what set it aside from previous films, she said. "I think James's knowledge of and love for these characters and the different adventures that he's taking them on with the different friends he's taking them with, kind of inherently brings it into present day," said Brosnahan. "Superman" begins its global cinematic rollout on July 9.


Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Gay penguin couple Scampi and Flounder are stepping up to raise chick at UK zoo
A same-sex penguin couple have become parents for the first time to a baby chick at Chester Zoo. Male penguins Scampi and Flounder have shared a close bond for a few years and have now stepped up to raise a chick. The pair took on the parenting responsibility after ten Humboldt penguin chicks arrived at the attraction in April. Another penguin couple, Wotsit and Peach, laid two eggs and zookeepers decided to allow the males to raise one of the chicks themselves. The Chester Zoo team said this was to allow each pair to focus solely on one chick and increase the chance of both fledgling. Same-sex relationships are not unheard of in the penguin world and a gay pair called Sphen and Magic became world-famous after raising two chicks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2020. Both male and female penguin parents usually share feeding duties but in an a 'heartwarming development' Scampi and Flounder have taken on the role together. Adorable photos show the youngsters undergoing regular weigh-ins and are said to be just 'days away' from their first swimming lessons. A Chester Zoo spokesperson said: 'Penguin couple Wotsit (male) and Peach (female) are first time parents. 'They laid two eggs and the keeper team decided to give one of their eggs to couple Scampi and Flounder to raise. 'This is just to help give each chick the very best chance of fledging the nest and so the new parents have one chick to focus on. 'Our keepers refer to Scampi and Flounder as a gay couple as they share a really close bond and have been together for a few years - which is why they were trusted to raise and care for one of the eggs and raise a chick.' Zoe Sweetman, team manager of penguins at Chester Zoo, said: 'Ten chicks hatching in one season marks a bumper year for the penguins here. 'It's fantastic news for the species and a brilliant success for the international conservation breeding programme. 'The fluffy new arrivals are all being looked after brilliantly by their parents, having nearly quadrupled in size since they first emerged. 'They're now days away from a really exciting milestone - their very first swimming lessons, which is always a thrill to witness as they dive into the pool for the very first time.' Humboldt Penguins Scientific name: Spheniscus humboldti This South American penguin is named after the chilly Humboldt current, along which the penguins commonly swim. In the wild, Humboldt penguins are vulnerable to disturbances in their food chain caused by strong El Nino currents. Humboldt penguins are social animals, living in relatively large colonies of closely spaced burrows. Humboldt penguins 'fly' through the water at speeds of up to 25mph. They enjoy a diet of small fish (anchovies, herring, smelt) and crustaceans. The highly-threatened Humboldt species is one of the most at risk of extinction out of the world's 17 species of penguin. Bird experts shared the eggs between the two nests to help give both chicks the best possible start and help improve chances of successful fledging. The chicks began hatching from their eggs between April 16-28 and have spent their first few weeks of life tucked away in their nest burrows. Keepers have now named eight of the penguins after constellations and celestial wonders - Ursa, Alcyone, Quasar, Orion, Dorado, Cassiopeia, Altair and Xena. Zoe added: 'In what has been one of our long standing traditions, each year we pick a fun theme to help name our chicks, which helps us keep track of who is who now that there are 63 penguins in the colony. 'This year we've gone with a celestial theme for naming the chicks and we've had a lot of fun coming up with names inspired by stars, constellations and cosmic wonders. 'But we've saved the final two names for the public, who can help us choose via the zoo's social media channels.' Humboldt penguins are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Found on the rocky coastal shores of Peru and Chile, they face a number of threats in the wild, including climate change, overfishing and rising ocean temperatures.


Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Lucy Burgess doesn't look like this anymore! Sam's wife reveals glowing transformation as she reaches pregnancy milestone
Sam Burgess and his second wife Lucy (née Graham) are expecting their second child together, six months after they tied the knot in Rome, Italy. The pair recently enjoyed a babymoon together in Capri, Italy, with Lucy sharing photos of the lavish April getaway to Instagram. On Thursday, the glamorous 33-year-old traded her designer gowns for her 'third trimester uniform'. Baring her belly for a mirror selfie, Lucy posed in a two-piece 'biscuit' loungewear set by Treat Studios. The NRL WAG piled her blonde locks into a stylishly messy updo, adding a touch of make-up to complete her laidback look. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The newlywed looked noticeably more youthful as she struck a pose for her 11,000 followers this week, highlighting her plump lips with a pretty shade of blush liner. Lucy spent months preparing herself for her big day by getting microneedling done to improve the appearance of her skin. The minimally invasive procedure, which involves inserting fine, short needles into the skin, helps minimise the look of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture and enlarged pores. In May 2024, Lucy shared a photo of her glowing complexion after having the cosmetic procedure. 'I have been going to see the girls at Palm Tree Skin Monthly since we returned to the UK 7 months ago,' she wrote at the time. 'I went to Victoria looking sun damaged, hormonal and dull with so much build up of dead skin but after following a bespoke treatment plan my skin is feeling better than it has in a long time.' 'A favourite treatment of mine is the Micro Needling. The results are instant (even if a little red at first) and it gets even better with time.' Lucy also revealed her noticeably plumper cheeks and taut visage, possibly a result of other injectables such as Botox and/or filler. Sam married Lucy in a lavish Italian wedding after two years of dating. The pair already share daughter Robbie, who they welcomed in September 2023. The English-born stunner is the co-founder of the sustainable fashion label Sentenced, which launched in September 2019. She also appears to be following in the footsteps of Sam's ex-wife Phoebe Burgess, who launched her career as an influencer in recent years after her split from the former footballer. Sam, who is coaching Warrington in the UK's Super League, shares two children with his ex-wife, daughter Poppy, eight, and son Billy, six. They were married for four years before splitting in 2019.