Newark Castle: New funding bid for castle revamp scheme

The council said designs for the gardens were not finalised but reflected their thinking

A £1.3m lottery funding bid to revamp a Nottinghamshire castle attraction is set to be submitted.

Newark Castle holds an imposing position over the River Trent, while its largely demolished interior hosts a park and garden.

The district council wants to reopen its distinctive gatehouse and install a series of history-themed galleries.

An application is set to be formally approved next week, with a decision expected early next year.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund previously awarded a development stage grant in March 2022, adding to £3m of funding from Newark's Towns Fund deal and a capital contribution, totalling about £4m.

Potted history of Newark Castle

The castle survived three sieges during the English Civil War

• Construction of Newark Castle, which was originally built as a bishop's palace, started in 1123

• King John died there in 1216 after contracting dysentery during a campaign in eastern England

• During the English Civil War, the castle withstood three sieges by Parliamentarian rebels, in 1642, 1644 and 1646

• In 1889, the castle opened a new garden in honour of Queen Victoria, who was celebrating her 70th birthday

• A Heritage Lottery grant in 2000 allowed the refurbishment of the garden, which included the building of a bandstand that featured on the original Victorian plans

The focus of the work is the original Romanesque Gatehouse, named by Historic England as the most complete example of such a structure in England, which would be reinstated as the entrance to the castle.

Inside will be five gallery spaces to tell the castle's story through time, leading to a tower-top viewing platform from which visitors can overlook the area, the district council said.

Also part of the project is the Victorian-era gardens, which will be enhanced to attract more wildlife

Access for wheelchairs, pushchairs and those with limited mobility will also be bolstered.

The council said the final designs were yet to be completed

Rowan Cozens, Newark and Sherwood District Council's deputy leader and portfolio holder for heritage, culture and the arts, said: "It was important to us that local people were consulted during this process and we have listened, ensuring that HE Milner's beloved flowerbed remains and that wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility are able to enjoy the full extent of the gardens.

"This of course means that changes must be made but our landscape architect at Urban Edge Architecture has worked very hard to create new paths which comply to accessibility legislation and which disturb as few trees as possible."

It is hoped the completed castle will attract almost 17,000 visitors annually to the town, with half-price entry to the galleries for local residents.

The town's early evening economy will be supported too with plans to improve the lighting in the grounds to enable a safe "after dark" experience, the council said.