Castle work to reveal view 'not seen in 300 years'

A view not seen for "more than 300 years" will be revealed by a multi-million pound development of one of Nottinghamshire's best-known historic sites.

The £6.7m scheme at Newark Castle will open up the original gatehouse, restore access to parts of the surviving walls and improve accessibility across the site.

Steeped in history, the castle saw both the mysterious death of King John in 1216 and a savage siege during the Civil War in 1646, after which Oliver Cromwell ordered it to be largely dismantled.

But part of the work, due to be completed late in 2026, will allow visitors to climb to the surviving walls and look out of windows last used by its Royalist defenders.

Normans first built a wooden stockade on the site but the grandly named Bishop Alexander the Magnificent, the Bishop of Lincoln, had it enlarged in stone in the mid-12th Century.

Having ruled so badly he started a major rebellion, King John died at the castle in 1216.

Rumours of gluttony and poisoning soon spread but many historians point to dysentery brought on by poor sanitation and stress.

But the castle was doomed by its prominent role in the English Civil War, where three sieges culminated in a six month blockade by Parliamentary forces, which only ended when King Charles I ordered its defenders to lay down their arms.

To ensure it could never again be used for an uprising, much of the structure was demolished, with only the wall overlooking the River Trent remaining.

Work on the site will also see the gatehouse re-roofed, new exhibition spaces built and improved access to the formal Victorian gardens that fill the former interior of the building.

The renovation has allowed archaeologists to investigate the site, finding a medieval cesspit, a wall associated with the siege and remains of a Victorian coal wharf.

Now as work progresses, "hard hat" tours are being organised for visitors.

Sarah Clarke, project delivery manager, said the development was a "really great opportunity for the region".

"There aren't many castles in the East Midlands. We've got dungeons, we've got underground spaces that people haven't been inside for many years.

"We've got rooms that we're creating, people haven't looked out of these windows for 300 years - it's super exciting," she said.

Richard Townsley, who was in a tour group which got to view progress at the castle, said: "Back in the day, when they ever did a project, you weren't allowed in until the opening.

"To see it unfold is fantastic. Literally watching them put it together in front of you is a fantastic opportunity.

"I've visited here lots of times, but this is going to be a really, really good asset."

Ms Clarke said they hoped to welcome more visitors.

"Obviously we don't want to slow the work down, we want to keep going with the project," she said.

"We'll have some more hard hat tours coming up after Christmas... and we'll be able to bring people behind the scenes and check up on the next phase."

The project is being funded by a £1.4m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £3.3m from the government's Towns Fund initiative and £2m from Newark and Sherwood District Council.

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