The history group
devoted their monthly session last month to a stroll around Newark guided by Sam Millard, a very knowledgeable local historian. Quite a few other members joined in and we ended up with about 25 people. Sam started in the castle grounds explaining why some of the windows in the existing wall were highly decorated because a section of the castle was, in fact, a Palace for King John, who eventually died there although there is a belief that he was poisoned.
It turns out Newark was for many years a very important place. Situated at the junction of two great roman roads and a river navigable to the sea. It's little wonder Charles 1st and the Royalists chose it as the place to make a stand against Cromwell and his round heads. The town was under siege three times during the war and was never taken by force. Eventually surrendering only when King Charles was arrested in Southwell when a deal was done to protect the inhabitants of the town from further slaughter. Sam's tour took us to the river and locks and then back through the butter market, the market square and the churchyard where you can see a cannon ball hole in the church spire to this day. The tour finished with a visit to the Governors house. Now a coffee house but still largely as it was in the civil war. The massive oak roof beams have held the roof up for 600 years and looks like they could do it for another 600. Altogether, a very enjoyable afternoon, especially as it didn't rain….. John Harris