Norwich Castle Museum is planning a dedicated exhibition to mark the Year of the Normans, to be sited adjacent to its British Museum Partnership Gallery, with support from the Freemen of Norwich.

The exhibition will connect three major events: the reopening of the Norwich Castle Keep, the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum, and the Norwich Friends Tapestry — a community textile project with strong local roots.

To extend the reach of the Friends Tapestry beyond the Castle, the museum service is commissioning a full-size replica that can tour other venues. The original volunteers who created the tapestry will remain involved in the project.

Committee members welcomed the plans, with one suggesting the Year of the Normans offered a broader opportunity to connect textile heritage across Norfolk's local museums and communities.

Norwich Castle has significant Norman connections, including its iconic Keep, as well as historic ties to Rouen and the Normandy region of France. Officers confirmed that plans were being developed with several partners, though no specific dates for the exhibition were given at the meeting.