World News for Students of English

20-08-2025 07:00

Norwich Castle, a 900-year-old Norman fortress, has reopened after a 27.5 million-pound transformation. Built in 1121 by King Henry I, the keep has long dominated Norwich’s skyline as a symbol of Norman power.

Now redesigned as The People’s Palace, the Grade I-listed building is considered the UK’s most accessible Norman castle. For the first time in its history, all five floors, from basement to battlements, are open to the public. A new state-of-the-art lift provides access for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs to the rooftop.

Inside, visitors can explore carefully recreated Norman royal chambers with authentic furniture, interactive exhibits, and spectacular laser projections in the Great Hall. A new Gallery of Medieval Life, in partnership with the British Museum, displays over 900 medieval artefacts, including 50 long-term loans. Curators highlight Norwich’s importance in the Middle Ages, when it was known as England’s second city thanks to its wealthy wool trade.

Difficult words: fortress (a very strong building for defence), authentic (real, not fake), artefact (an old object made by people, often of historical value).

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