Norwich Castle

, prior to alterations completed in 1793 by John Soane]] Norwich Castle was founded by William the Conqueror some time between 1066 and 1075 and originally took the form of a motte and bailey. Early in 1067, William embarked on a campaign to subjugate East Anglia, and according to military historian R. Allen Brown it was probably around this time that the castle was founded. The earliest recorded incident at the castle is in 1075, when it was besieged by troops loyal to William to put down a rebellion known as the Revolt of the Earls, co-led by Ralph de Gael, Earl of Norfolk. Ralph went abroad to try and rally support from the Danes leaving his wife Emma in charge of the garrison. The…

G. T. Clark, a 19th-century antiquary and engineer, described Norwich's great tower as "the most highly ornamented keep in England". It was originally faced with Caen stone over a flint core. The original Norman bridge over the inner ditch was replaced in around 1825.

Parts of Norwich castle were used as a prison from an early stage; a gaol was made in the castle which serviced the wider county. State prisoners were confined in this gaol in 1264 and 1274. Sometimes the earl in charge of a royal castle refused to allow the sheriff to imprison convicted criminals therein, even though it had been customary to do so., 20 October 1775]]By the 18th century, the stone of the castle had blackened, its battlements had decayed, and the castle ditch was being used for rubbish disposal. John Soane rebuilt the prison between 1789 and 1793. The interior walls of the keep were removed and cells for the male felons built. The debtors and women prisoners were…