About Newark on Trent

about newark | events

Newark (Newark on Trent to give it it's full title) is a beautiful historic market town located in the north of the county of Nottinghamshire, England. It is home to a population of over 35,000 people (with an additional rural population of 75,000 in the numerous surrounding villages of the district), to many splendid buildings and host to a number of important local events.

Location of Newark

Newark can be found in the East Midlands region of England. It is situated at the major crossroads between the A1 and A46 (formerly known as the Great North Road, and The Fosse Way respectively).

Click here for the town map

multimap.com

The town lies in flat, fertile lowland near the junction of the river Devon with the Trent. Though it actually lies on the Devon, it is connected with the Trent navigation by means of a canal which passes by the castle.

The East Coast Main Line runs directly through the town, making London’s King’s Cross just a short rail journey away. Newark is 120 miles N.N.W. of London by the Great Northern railway, and on the Nottingham & Lincoln branch of the Midland railway.


Newark Castle

History of Newark

No town in Nottinghamshire can exceed in historical importance the ancient borough of Newark, or, as it has been more picturesquely described, 'The Key of the North'.

Newark (Newerca, Nouwerk) owed its origin, possibly in Roman times, to its position on the great road called the Fosse Way, in the valley of the Trent.

In the reign of Edward III, the castle was used as a state prison. During the Great Rebellion it was garrisoned for Charles I., and endured three sieges. Its dismantling was begun in 1646, immediately after the surrender of the king.

Architecture in Newark

The church of St Mary Magdalene is one of the largest and finest parish churches of England, and is specially known for its 223ft. high octagonal spire, visible for miles from many of the surrounding villages.

The beautiful 'Beaumond Cross' (of the 15th century) is still well preserved in Beaumond Gardens on London Road.

Newark's Castle rises picturesquely from the river and forms the backdrop to much of Newark's history.

Other principal public buildings include the Palladian style town-hall (known locally as the ButterMarket) erected in 1774, the corn exchange (1848), and a grammar and song school founded in the reign of Henry VIII.

The church of St Mary Magdalene