By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A £1.3m lottery funding bid will be made to transform Newark Castle and reinstate the historic gatehouse as the main entrance to the 12th Century landmark.
Under the new plans the Romanesque Gatehouse would be reinstated as the main entrance.
Historic England says the gatehouse is one of the finest examples of the architectural style in England.
On top of this, five gallery spaces, a tower-top viewing platform and castle gardens will also be enhanced.
A visit to parts of the redeveloped site is set to cost adults £8 a ticket, although the grounds will remain free to enter.
The scheme will cost in the region of £5.3m, with around £3m coming from the Government’s Towns Fund.
During a Newark and Sherwood District Council Cabinet meeting on October 31, councillors agreed to apply to the Heritage Fund for a further £1,322,343 in funding for the scheme’s delivery.
During the meeting Lead Officer for Heritage and Culture, Carys Coulton-Jones, said: “Newark Castle has one of the finest examples of a Romanesque gatehouse in the country and the proposals will reinstate this as the main entrance to the site, improve accessibility both in the gardens and castle itself, improve the biodiversity of the planting scheme and upgrade the lighting.
“It will create a new destination attraction for the town and act as a catalyst locally for improved engagement with green space, heritage and our learning service.
“The project has included significant consultation already, both with residents and visitors, but also with Historic England and the Heritage Fund, and the scheme has been received extremely positively.
“Alongside the Heritage Fund the project is funded by the Towns Fund. Dovetailing the timelines for these two funding bodies is challenging and it is crucial we now submit our Heritage Fund application in order to meet the Towns Fund spend deadline of March 2026.”
Newark Castle, originally built as a bishop’s palace from 1123, withstood three sieges during the English Civil War.
In 1889 a new garden was opened for Queen Victoria on her 70th birthday, and a Heritage Lottery grant in 2000 helped pay for a refurbishment of the area.
Romanesque architecture was prominent in Europe from the 11th Century and was the precursor to Gothic styles.
It is distinguished by quality and strength, as well as thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, and large towers.
During the meeting the council also approved its preferred charging model.
Under the plans, an adult ticket would cost £8 for an annual pass and children would go free.
Newark and Sherwood District residents would get a 50 per cent discount on tickets, making the entry charge £4.
The first floor north-west tower and gatehouse tower will be ticketed, while the gardens and tower gallery will be free under the plans.
“In development of a business plan we have worked alongside heritage experts and undertaken benchmarking to explore various charging models,” Ms Coulton-Jones added.
“The preferred option that we have proposed is a combination of a need for a sustainable financial model, still reflecting our aspirations to increase access for residents with a free offer in the gardens, a free gallery space and a programme of activity.
“The financial model will be explored further through the Towns Fund for business case development.”
The project is subject to both a successful Heritage Fund bid and the development and approval of the full business case for the Towns Fund, both of which will be resolved by March 2024.
