✨ Opening Spotlight
Norwich Castle Keep Reopens in Spectacular Style
On August 13, Norwich Castle Keep opened its doors after a £27.5 million transformation — and it feels like stepping back into the Norman world. For the first time, visitors can glide up by lift through all five floors, climb to rooftop views, and wander halls recreated with medieval grandeur. Imagine slipping on a velvet robe, sitting on a throne, and being surrounded by immersive projections that make the past feel very present. One standout? The Norwich Friends’ Tapestry, a 19-metre masterpiece stitched by 50 volunteers over 30,000 hours. It’s not just a castle reopening — it’s a rebirth. (Source: ConstructionMag UK)
🎭 Events & Festivals
Arundel Castle’s Summer Buzz
Arundel is alive with energy this August. On August 14, History Day brought axe throwing, crossbows, and mock battles to the lawns. By the weekend, the castle gardens transformed into a stage for Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor under the stars. And it’s only the warm-up. From August 23–25, the Festival of History takes visitors on a whirlwind tour from the Stone Age to the 20th century — a kind of time machine packed into one castle. (Source: Arundel Castle)
Warwick Castle’s “Year of Extraordinary Events”
If Arundel is buzzing, Warwick is booming. This summer’s lineup includes open-air concerts, costumed pageantry, and living history spectacles that spill out across the grounds. Tickets start at £26, but the chance to see the castle come alive with fire, music, and medieval drama? Priceless. (Source: Warwick Castle)
🎶 Music & Culture
Castle Kilbride’s Lawn Concerts
Meanwhile in Ontario, Castle Kilbride has turned its front lawn into one of the most charming concert spots of the season. On August 14, Onion Honey filled the air with folk harmonies. Next up, on August 21, York Street Thought Process takes the stage. The best part? It’s donation-based, with a friendly craft market tucked alongside. Picture yourself on a picnic blanket, sipping something cold, music mingling with history. (Source: Wilmot’s community events calendar)
🔎 Archaeology & Discoveries
Castle Ward’s Hidden Ruins
Sometimes, the past sneaks up when you least expect it. At Castle Ward in Northern Ireland, simple drainage work unearthed tiled floors, fireplaces, and butchered animal bones — remnants of buildings from the late 1600s or early 1700s. Archaeologists called it “extremely significant,” a discovery that adds new chapters to the story of how estates evolved. Proof once again that castles still have secrets under their stones. (Source: BBC News)
🛠️ Living History & Experiments
Guédelon Castle Keeps Teaching Us
In Burgundy, France, Guédelon continues its medieval experiment — a castle built using only 13th-century tools and methods. It sounds like cosplay, but the lessons are real: archaeologists here have solved mysteries about lime mortar, scaffolding, and even medieval tilemaking. Their findings ripple outward, helping restorers across Europe keep authentic techniques alive. Guédelon isn’t just a project. It’s a laboratory of the Middle Ages. (Source: Archaeology Magazine)
📌 Weekly Wrap-Up
From Norwich’s shimmering rebirth to Arundel’s summer theatre, from Castle Ward’s buried past to Guédelon’s living experiment, this week reminded us that castles are never frozen in time. They’re places of reinvention, discovery, and joy — and they’re waiting for you to step inside.
