Colchester Castle in Essex, UK, has opened a new gallery, funded by the Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund (WMGIF).

The new £35,000 gallery focuses on the Normans and their impact on the Saxon way of life and visitors will be able to investigate the building of Colchester Castle – the largest Norman keep in Europe.

They will also be able to dress up in Saxon costume and see themselves in scenes fleeing from the Vikings as well as hearing how language has evolved since the Norman times.

The gallery’s building and continuing operating costs were covered by a £79,200 funding package awarded to the museum by WMGIF.

Marie Taylor, marketing officer for Colchester Museums, said: “The new gallery has been developed in response to customers’ needs and their rising expectations, demonstrating our commitment to listen to customers when improving our facilities.”