PROJECT REPORT: HERITAGE & HISTORIC 37
physical access so that visitors can access all the museum areas without having to take a guided tour.
Contentiously, the decision was made to strip out all of the keep’s Victorian-era fl oors, designed by Norwich-born architect Edward Boardman, leaving just the four limestone external walls. The Victorian Society strongly objected to this plan saying that destroying the Boardman elements “will fl atten out this character.” However, Davidson contends that removing the fl oors was necessary to create the structure to support the new principal fl oor, also noting that one section of Victorian fl oor was reinserted to create a British Museum gallery space that wraps around a mezzanine level. Feilden+Mawson worked with a committee of 14 academic historic specialists to determine the original medieval layout. “We knew we had the correct height because of the scarring around the outside of the wall, pockets where the medieval timber would have been inserted were reused to house new steel
work,” said Davidson.
Using historic evidence and signals from the building itself, the King’s Chamber, Great Hall, chapel and kitchen are all reinstated to their original positions with replica internal walls inserted. Interestingly, the King never lived at the castle, only staying there once in the 12th century. Given the many layers of history to the building, it was very important, says Davidson, not to “over-reach with restoration and do too much.” As a result, efforts were made not to disturb archaeology or artifacts uncovered onsite and instead make them “part of the building’s future story.”
A key example of this is the new lift and stair core inserted in the southeast corner of the keep. When an area of untouched archaeology was found in the ground at the intended location, rather than dig it up, the size of the lift was reduced so it could remain undisturbed.
That meant switching the lift’s structure from glass to metal – a major change to the design intent because Historic England
PROJECT FACTFILE
Client: Norfolk Museums Service Architect: Feilden+Mawson Engineer: Conisbee Project Manager & QS: Artelia MEP: Sweco Fire consultant: Sweco Museums consultant: HSD Surveys: Roland Harris – Downland Partnership Main contractor: Morgan Sindall Construction
Architectural metalwork: Olympic Welding
Main steelwork: Crofton Engineering General carpentry: Prospect Carpentry Specialist joinery: Coulson Stonemasonry: Brown and Ralph Partitioning and dry lining: Great Yarmouth Ceilings Decorative stonework: Stevensons of Norwich Blacksmith: Holkham Forge
ADF JUNE 2026
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
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