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Norris Castle Preservation Trust

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Official page of the Norris Castle Preservation Trust (CIO 1219029).

Saving & restoring Norris Castle, a Grade I listed Gothic Revival estate on the Isle of Wight, designed by James Wyatt in 1799, for public benefit. 🏰
📍 IOW

01/11/2026

🎃 Happy Halloween from Norris Castle! 👻

We hope everyone has a lovely Halloween, whether you’re out trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins or enjoying a spooky evening at home.

With its turrets, towers and centuries of history, Norris Castle certainly has the perfect setting for a few ghost stories! We wonder what tales its walls could tell after dark…

Have a lovely and safe Halloween, everyone! 🕯️🏰

31/10/2026

Norris Castle – over 200 years ago.

It’s fascinating to look back at how Norris Castle was depicted in the early 19th century.

This view, titled Lord Henry Seymour’s Castle, was engraved by William Daniell and published in 1823, offering a glimpse of Norris and its grounds when the estate was still relatively new.

The scene includes the castle overlooking the Solent, with figures in the grounds and even peacocks in the foreground.

It’s wonderful to have these historic images to help us understand how Norris Castle looked to those who visited more than 200 years ago.

Do you have any old photographs, paintings or family memories of Norris Castle that you’d be happy to share with us?

24/10/2026

A wet and windy weekend across the UK, and no doubt Norris Castle has been feeling it too! 🌧️💨

Being so close to the Solent, the castle must have seen its fair share of wild weather over the years.

Hopefully the winds die down and we get a bit of autumn sunshine back on the Island soon!

19/10/2026

One of the things that makes Norris Castle so distinctive is its Gothic Revival architecture.

Designed by architect James Wyatt for Lord Henry Seymour around the turn of the 19th century, the castle has a very different character from many of the country houses found across the Island.

It’s often the smaller details that make historic buildings so interesting, from the shape of the windows to the unusual towers and other features incorporated into the design.

There is still plenty to explore and learn about Norris Castle, and we’ll be sharing more of these details as our research continues.

Have you ever stopped to look at the architectural details of Norris Castle?

18/10/2026

A little mystery hidden away at Norris Castle…

Among the things we came across during our visit to Norris Castle were these fascinating horse drawings on the walls in the basement.

There are around thirteen drawings in total. We have a recollection of being told that a young girl may have drawn them, although we’re unable to confirm the story. A couple also appear to include the name Robert.

Who drew them, and how long have they been there?

It’s these little details that make exploring an historic building so interesting. Not every story is written in a history book, and sometimes the walls themselves leave us with questions.

If anyone has any knowledge of these drawings or remembers hearing their story, we’d love to hear from you.

09/10/2026

🏰 A little mystery at Norris Castle…

Have you ever noticed the window in the turret at Norris Castle that appears to be there on the outside, but can’t be seen from the inside?

When we visited the castle, this curious feature was pointed out to us, and it’s something that really makes you stop and wonder.

Was it part of an earlier design? Could there be a structural explanation? Or is there more to the story than meets the eye?

Historic buildings often hold little details that can easily go unnoticed, and Norris Castle is full of fascinating features waiting to be understood.

Have you ever noticed this window, or do you know anything about its history? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

📸 credit: LSUrbex Exploration

03/10/2026

🏰 The people of Norris

When we talk about Norris Castle, it’s easy to concentrate on the architecture, the history and the famous names connected with the estate.

But a place like Norris is also about the people who actually lived and worked there.

For generations, Norris was a working estate, with its own farm, gardens, buildings, animals and people needed to keep everything running. The Grade I-listed Norris Castle Farm was designed as part of the original estate and included the bailiff’s house, workers’ accommodation and walled kitchen garden.

Some of the people who knew Norris best may never have appeared in a history book — but their memories can tell us things that documents cannot.

We’re always interested in hearing from anyone who has lived, worked or spent time at Norris over the years. If you have a story, photograph or memory of the estate, we’d love to hear from you.

Norris isn’t just a building. It’s a story made up of generations of people. ❤️

20/09/2026

A little piece of Norris history by the water

This is the Landing House at Norris — tucked away on the shoreline and easily missed when the Castle itself naturally takes centre stage.

The Grade II* listed building dates from 1855–56 and was built for the Osborne estate by John Blandford, Clerk of Works to Queen Victoria. It was designed in an Italianate/Tuscan style, with a wide staircase connecting the upper part of the house with the shore below.

Its position wasn’t accidental. The Landing House formed part of the historic landing approach to Norris, connecting the shoreline with the estate above. A landing quay provided access from the water and may have been used by visitors and tradesmen bringing goods across from the mainland.

Historic England records that the basement was probably originally a boathouse.

It’s another reminder that Norris wasn’t simply a house and parkland — it was a whole estate designed around its position beside the Solent.

📷 A view of the Landing House today.

23/02/2026

I know it’s been quiet recently, but a lot has been happening behind the scenes. Setting up the correct charity structure and putting together a proper preservation plan takes time, and I want to make sure everything is done carefully and respectfully.

There has been contact with the relevant parties so that a realistic proposal can be put forward.

The aim remains the same — to see Norris Castle protected and given a sustainable future for the Island and its history.

Thank you to everyone who continues to follow and support the page. Public interest genuinely helps show how much this place matters 🤍

I’ll share further updates as soon as I’m able to.

31/12/2025

✨ Happy New Year from Norris Castle – Bringing History Back to Life ✨

As we step into a new year, we’re filled with hope for what lies ahead for Norris Castle – a place rich in history, memories, and potential.

2025 is about listening, learning, and laying careful foundations. Our aim is simple but ambitious: to explore how this extraordinary site could be preserved, protected, and brought back into meaningful public use for future generations.

Thank you to everyone who has followed, supported, shared stories, or simply cheered this idea on so far. Every conversation and message matters more than you know.

If Norris Castle holds memories for you, or if you’d like to be part of its possible future, we’d love to hear from you in the months ahead.

Here’s to a year of possibility, heritage, and hope 💚

—
Norris Castle, Bringing History Back to Life

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