Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire

Newark Castle, in Newark-on-Trent in the English county of Nottinghamshire, was founded in the mid 12th century by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln. Originally a timber castle, it was rebuilt in stone towards the end of the century. The castle was slighted (dismantled) in the 17th century as a result of the English Civil War, and restored in the 19th century, first by Anthony Salvin in the 1840s and then by the corporation of Newark who bought the site in 1889.

File:Newark - Newark Castle - 20240224171528.jpg

Newark Castle

History

In a charter generally thought to date to 1135, King Henry I granted the Bishop of Lincoln permission to build a castle.<ref name=Braun>Braun (1935)</ref> The charter reads:

File:Newark Castle and bridge London Published by J Deeley, 95 Bewick St Soho, 1812 Coloured aquatint.jpg

Newark Castle and Bridge circa 1812, before it was restored by Anthony Salvin

Alexander also established a mint at the castle.<ref>Pettifer (1995), pp.148 & 201</ref> This early castle was most likely of timber construction, and was rebuilt in stone towards the end of the century.<ref name=Braun/> King John died after a feast at this castle on the night of 18 October 1216 from dysentery, according to tradition from eating a "surfeit of peaches".<ref>Fryde, Greenway, Porter and Roy (1996), p.37</ref><ref>Warren (1991), pp.254–255</ref>

The castle was slighted in 1648 and left derelict. Between 1845 and 1848 architect Anthony Salvin restored the castle, and in 1889 the corporation of Newark purchased the building and carried out further restoration work.<ref name=pastscape>Template:PastScape</ref>

The castle is a scheduled monument,<ref name=pastscape/> a "nationally important" historic building and archaeological site which has been given protection against unauthorised change.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is also a Grade I listed building (first listed in 1950)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and recognised as an internationally important structure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Gilstrap Heritage Centre is located on the castle grounds. The centre featured exhibits about the castle, and the town's history during the English Civil Wars. The Gilstrap Centre is now the Newark Registration Office. Admission to the gardens is free and tours are conducted by the Castle Ranger. Template:Clear

• The castle seen from the west
  The castle seen from the west
• The 12th-century gatehouse seen from the south
  The 12th-century gatehouse seen from the south
• Inside the north west corner of the castle & location of Ranger's Office.
  Inside the north west corner of the castle & location of Ranger's Office.
• The internal wall of the castle.
  The internal wall of the castle.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
• Listed buildings in Newark-on-Trent
• Sconce and Devon Park

References

Bibliography

• Template:Cite journal
• Fryde, E. B., D. E. Greenway, S. Porter and I. Roy (eds) (1996) Handbook of British Chronology, third edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Template:ISBN.
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Citation Template:Open access
• Warren, W. Lewis. (1991) King John. London: Methuen. Template:ISBN.

External links

• Gatehouse Gazetteer record for Newark Castle, containing a comprehensive bibliography
• Newark Castle and gardens
• YouTube video about the Gilstrap Heritage Centre and castle ruins