Newark upon Trent Things to Do

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I think the garden's beautify the Castle. There a garden bed's with annual's growing, plenty of pathway's and plenty of seating.
The Tourist Information centre is located in Gilstrap House where there is a FREE exhibition about the castle, and the town's history during the English Civil Wars.

The Rotary club have a bronze layout of the town of Newark.

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Newark Castle ruin's looked well kept and looked after. They were set amongst nice garden's, and there was plenty of signposted information.

It is thought, the Castle was originally a Saxon fortified manor house, founded by King Edward the Elder. From 1123-33, Bishop Alexander the Magnificent completely rebuilt the castle, and then in the 13th century, the castle was substantially rebuilt with a new riverside curtain wall, still more alterations in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the castle became more of a palace. King John of England died at this castle in 1216, and during the reign of Edward III, it was used as a state prison.

After the Civil War, only the gatehouse, including chapel and lodgings, curtain wall and north-west tower now remains. Well worth having a look around.

The castle grounds are open daily, dawn until dusk. FREE
Guided tours of the Castle’s towers and dungeons are available.

There are car parks nearby.

There is a story to the Ossington Coffee Place, which now is a Restaurant.

This smart building was opened in 1882 by Viscountess Ossington as a temperance hotel, in the hope of tempting farmers away from the demon drink (alcohol).
Since Newark was at the time the biggest centre of brewing in the country, this was rather laughable! Whether this worked or not, who know's!
On the death of her husband, she gave the building to the town in memory of her husband, who had been Speaker of the House of Commons. The rooms included coffee room, assembly rooms, club room, reading room, billiard room and dormitories for travellers, as well as providing stabling for forty horses, sheds for carts, a bowling green, and a tea garden.

Now it is being used as a Restaurant.

Located in the large Market Place is this impressive civic building, built in 1774, in Georgian style.
I was tricked when I first saw it, as on the front is the name "Butter Market."

It has balustrade, urns, lion, unicorn and "Justice".

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This Market Town was easy to walk around as it was all flat going.

I found all type's of building's and Museum's here, like the once premises of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank. [photo 1]
There were a lot more sturdy brick building's here, than I had seen else where!
Now, don't let us forget the Castle ruin's and the River where you can do a cruise.
Quite a nice Market Town........

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The Governor of Newark Castle, Sir Richard Willis, lived in this Tudor building during the Civil War. Prince Rupert had his famous quarrel with Charles I here in October 1645.
The building is 16th century, and has been used as shop's for the last 100year's.

The historic building in my photo, is what used to be, "Ye Olde White Hart," a very important Inn during and after the Civil war, and the busiest coaching Inn in town in the 1830's.
Originally a house called The White Hart, it dates from the 14th or early 15th century. The rectangular arch on the left was the entrance for coaches and is characteristic of all old coaching inns.

Located in the south-east corner of the Market Place and now the premises of Nottingham Building Society, who have restored this old building.

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This Church is said to be one of the finest parish churches in Nottinghamshire.
It is one of the largest churches in England, with a 252 ft west tower that can be seen from anywhere in Newark, so you know what to do if you get lost, head for the Tower!
The spire dates from 1230, while the rest of the church was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Inside, it's a mixture of Norman, early English, and Tudor Gothic.

THE CHURCH IS OPEN.... 08:30-12:30 & 1.30 -4PM Mon-Sat, plus Sun afternoon.

Guess what the Castle Barge is?

The Castle Barge is Newark's famous floating pub!

This old grain barge, built in 1923, was converted into its present form in 1980. Serves typical bar food daily although the range is small (small galley), it is reasonable value.
It is open from 10.30 till late, and has an outdoor sitting area

The pub is situated just on the edge of Newark by the bridge near the castle.

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This was our first stop in Newark, the Riverside Park located alongside the River Trent.

A large park and display car-park was located here, and Toilet's. The park is a large lawned area, from where we had a great view of the Castle from the waterfront.
This park is used for a lot of the Town event's, such as music concerts, food fairs, funfairs and duck races. It looked like you could swim in the River here.
Every Wednesday an auction market is held on the Riverside Park arena, next to the car park on Tolney Lane.
There is a pathway alongside the River, looks like you can walk for quite a way.

When were saw how close the Town was, we left the Car in this car-park and went walking from there.