About Newark

Two of Newark's most striking landmarks both overlook the town's wide central market square, the town hall in all its elegant Georgian splendour and the church of St Mary Magdalene that has a cathedral-like style to its architecture.

The church is one of the largest of its type in the country, with a classic Gothic facade, awe-inspiring interior with a vaulted ceiling and an imposing spire that towers over the surrounding area to a height of over two hundred and fifty feet, making it visible for miles around.

The most impressive building in Newark is perhaps the town's castle, which is a fascinating combination of architectural styles, owing to the various kings and bishops who had taken charge of it over the centuries. The only parts remaining from the original construction of the late twelfth century are the main gate and west tower, with the bulk of what can be seen now being erected in the thirteenth century when it was transformed into a fortified manor house.

Heritage tours around the now-ruined castle document all the important historical figures who resided there, from Henry VIII to Charles I, and the many battles and sieges that occurred there.

Those with an interest in local history should pay a visit to both Newark Museum, which catalogues the town's involvement in The English Civil War, and the Millgate Museum, which is linked via a scenic riverside footpath to the castle grounds. This former Victorian mill complex showcases all aspects of local life, from social to industrial, over the last hundred and fifty years.