It is a six sided land fort surrounded by a deep dry ditch, built in the 1860's. It was armed with one hundred men and initially six 7" RML guns, though by the end of the century these had been replaced by two 6" BL guns . Owned by the National Trust since 1967, it is still standing and today is used for light industry.
The fort was constructed on a hill, so named because of the yellow laburnum bushes there, midway between Yarmouth and Freshwater , to the west of the River Yare. It was intended to be a defensible barracks and keep for the batteries defending the needles passage.
A century ago it was part of the extensive grounds of Osborne House and was built by Queen Victoria as a retreat for her daughter, Princess Beatrice, who also resided in the adjacent small Albert Cottage Hotel.
Norris Castle is a most conspicuous feature in the coast view of this part of the Island, may be approached either by road or by a walk along the shore; the latter, of course, should be adopted only when the tide is favourable.
