December 26, 1900

On Saturday night considerable commotion was caused in the Market Place about twenty minutes to nine o'clock pm, by the ringing of the fire bell.

The brigade turned out as swiftly as usual, and proceeded to a row of new houses recently effected by Mr Wm Kirkby, on part of the Lindum House estate.

In one of these lives a workman at Messrs Ransome's works residences, and it appears one of his children went upstairs with a light and accidentally set fire to some clothing.

The fire spread rapidly, but happily help was at hand and with Captain Harrison promptly on the scene the outbreak was speedily got under control.

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The Co-operative Stores, Kirkgate, were broken into between midnight Friday and the early hours of Saturday morning.

The thief or thieves appear to have entered from the back of the premises and were baulked of getting into the shop where all Friday's takings were deposited in a safe, by the fact that the manager had taken a precaution to lock all the doors which gave ingress to the shop.

The shop breakers appear to have had a good time from a feeding point of view, having discovered a cooked ham and half a loaf of bread, which they made great inroads upon.

About a dozen oranges were accounted for by the peel left about, but very little further loss was occasioned.

December 19, 1800

We understand that the GNER Company has added an additional train to its service between Newark and London, in order to give greater facilities to the Newark traders who do business in London.

The train runs on Fridays only, leaving Newark at 8am, and is due at King's Cross at 10.40am.

The first run was made on Friday last, and it is to be hoped that this connection will be largely taken advantage of.

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On Friday night last, at the Southwell Masonic Hall, the trustees of Spofforth's Charity, which is under the control of the parish council, distributed about 90 loaves of bread to the deserving poor.

The charity will be continued for the next fortnight, and afterwards Fillingham's Charity will be distributed.

The trustees in attendance were Messrs Downing, Merryweather and Leek.

There are also 40 half sovereigns to be given away as near to Christmas as possible, being part of the rent of a farm at Elston, and is divided between Southwell and Gainsborough.

The presentation to Mr James Neal of an illuminated address and a purse of gold will take place at the Town Hall, on Saturday next at 7.30pm, when a smoking concert will be held.

An excellent programme of entertainment has been arranged.

December 12, 1900.

Newark Cattle Market was a scene of bustle and business activity yesterday, the occasion being the annual Christmas Fat Stock Market.

On these annual occasions our local butchers secure the prime fed animals which provide the Christmas Meat Show held later in the month, and off which are cut those grand joints which grace many a festive board.

With a laudable desire to encourage our agricultural friends and introduce them to favour Newark Market with their stock, the Tradesman's Association offered a series of prices for the best beast, sheep and pigs brought to the Christmas market.

There was no entry fee, and no perplexing or vexatious conditions.

It was a tentative step by the Association, who, realising that other towns and markets offer these special inducements by way of prices, determined Newark should not be behind.

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The first musical evening of the season will be given by Newark Philharmonic Society in the Town Hall, on Tuesday evening next commencing at eight o'clock.

In addition to part songs by the vocal members, and selections by the orchestra, songs will be given by Miss Emily Hart, and Mr W. H. Burrows (Sheffield's popular tenor.)

Not the least attractive item on the programme will be a violin solo by Mr Ben Johnson.

December 5, 1900.

Mr Rene Bull, the celebrated photographic representative of Black and White at the site of war, visited Newark last Thursday and lectured in the Corn Exchange to a large audience.

In an article, which will appear in the illustrated journal Photography, on Photographers as War Correspondents, there appears a lengthy notice of Mr Rene Bull, with a portrait and some of the snapshot views shown at Newark.

It was a great honour for our townspeople to have the opportunity to meet this internationally renowned plucky correspondent, and hear his description of battle scenes as they impressed him.

In all 200 photographs were shown.

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On Friday last considerable excitement was seen in Bowbridge Road through a sudden outbreak of fire.

At 12.30pm the Fire Brigade were called out.

It appeared that Mrs Norman, wife of Sgt Norman of the 4th Derbyshire Regiment serving in South Africa, had been airing bedding by the fire upstairs.

A bed had been placed against the fire to dry and became ignited.

There was soon an alarming conflagration but willing hands were quickly passing buckets of water up, and they held in check the outbreak pending the arrival of the firemen.

The damage to the floors and ceilings of the bedroom was fairly serious and the bedding was completely burned.