Norwich Castle

Hello all,

I found puppets! 

Last weekend I visited the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, and I figured I had better post my pictures here before I did something exciting this weekend and had more pictures to post.
The castle was also started about 900 years ago like the Cathedral. It is supposedly the only castle in East Anglia. Work on the castle began in 1094 with William II and was completed by his brother in 1121. I kept seeing information about how the castle served for the area's gaol from anywhere as early as the late 1300's till the year 1883. I just figured that was some sort of castle-y thing like a area for fighting practice and patrolling or something else that sounds like it would have happened in a castle. Turns out gaol means prison or jail (thank you google).

Follow the paw prints to fun ...

Now it is mostly a museum. One part of the museum is all about the wide life in Norwich. There is a room full of stuffed birds on all four sides just staring into the middle of the room at you. Steph M, would have loved that room. In that portion of the museum there is a center area with activities for children, and Allie's. There I met Albert and Penny. (Yes, that penguin puppet does have legs.) Although it has since been suggested to me that perhaps it was meant to be a puffin. ... Does anyone know if puffins have legs?

I have no idea why he is that angry at me ... 

They knew how cute they were. 

I also met some seals! These seals represent the different seal breeds that can be found on the East Anglian coast. They are the common seal and the grey seal. Click here to learn about the seal reeds that inhabit the Norfolk area... you know you want to know. The good news is the common seals have there pups in June - July and the grey seals have their pups from October - December. You know what that means ... Seal pups all year round!

The idea was to try and build a bridge like the timber
bridges of the 12th century...
Long story short, I would not have made a good bridger.

Another part of the museum is all about the history of the Romans who lived there and also the Anglo Saxon tribes that once inhabited the area. There is also a room full of tea pots and an art gallery or Norwich related paintings (paintings of the Norfolk area, and by artists from the area). The special exhibit in the castle museum right now is portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. They also had a tape recording playing of her first live radio speech given during the evacuation of children from London during the war.

Inside the Castle Keep. 

A large portion of the castle is devoted to a replica of a medieval castle keep. With lots of activities for children and Allie's as well as some information about some of the King's who may have spent some time at the castle. Including the year 1121 when King Henry I spent Christmas at the castle.


You can learn more about the Castle, it's history and exhibits here: http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/Visit_Us/Norwich_Castle/index.htm