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In a quiet corner of Newark town centre, a small but significant architectural improvement has recently been put into effect by the Newark Town and District Club.

The club's premises, Barnbygate House, is a listed Grade II building and was formerly the home of Dr F. H. Appleby, a well-remembered Newark physician.

It was built in the late 18th Century and includes a fine dog leg staircase (pictured), magnificent banqueting rooms and a charming walled garden.

The club moved to Barnbygate House in 1933 since which time it has made many improvements, both to its fabric and decor.

Just over a year ago a new cycle of renovation (the most comprehensive yet) was commenced including a full re-wiring, overhaul of the fire detection systems and re-decoration of the interior.

With help from the Newark Conservation Partnership Scheme and Newark and Sherwood District Council's conservation team the works have ensured that wall and floor coverings have all been matched (as far as possible) to what may have been present in the house in the late 18th Century.

Skilled craftsmen from some of Newark's oldest firms have been employed on the project and consultants from ICI's paintworks have advised on authentic colours for the Georgian stairway and principal function rooms on the first floor.

The new dado rail up the stairs - missing for so many years - has been faithfully recreated from a small section found surviving on the topmost landing.

The top photograph gives a glimpse into the restored interior of the house, but for most people who pass by the house today by far the most obvious changes have been wrought on the outside.

Gone are the unsympathetic Victorian sash windows, replaced by hand-made Georgian-style lights. A new front door, modelled from contemporary designs, magnificently recaptures the essence of when the house was an 18th Century gentleman's residence.

Just inside the front door, however, a concession has been made to the house's later history in the form of a fine Victorian tiled floor which was revealed during the renovation (pictured).

The earliest known resident of Barnbygate House (in the early 19th Century) was John Beevor, a solicitor in the firm of Tallents Beevor on Cartergate.

He was succeeded by the noted physician and geologist Dr Jeremiah Bigsby (1792 - 1881), who practised in the town from 1827 to 1846.

Dr Bigsby was instrumental in improving medical provision in the town, playing an important role in the establishment of Newark's first true hospital in 1840.

Following Dr Bigsby's departure in 1846 (he took up permanent residence in London), the next occupier was a Mr George Harvey.

His son (also called George) was in business as a wine and spirit merchant with a shop on Kirkgate. He rose to become one of the town's leading citizens, becoming mayor in 1873.

Following George Harvey's death in 1879, Barnbygate House passed into the hands of the noted local physician Dr Frederick Henry Appleby (1843 - 1918) whose career in Newark had begun when he became House Surgeon at the old Newark Hospital on Albert Street in 1865.

In 1871 Dr Appleby moved into private practice as a partner in the firm of Lacy, Hodgkinson, Matterson and Appleby whose surgery was on Boar Lane.

Following his purchase of Barnbygate House, the practice - now listed as simply Matterson and Appleby - was carried on from the house itself.

Dr Appleby was thrice Mayor of Newark (in 1899, 1909 and 1910) and during the first world war was appointed medical officer to the Royal Engineers' training centre in Newark.

He attained the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel of the Sherwood Foresters.

Following Dr Appleby's death in 1918, his widow continued to live at Barnbygate House, being joined in the early Twenties by their only son, Major Lewis Charles Bishop Appleby JP (1878 - 1953) who became its last private owner.

Major Appleby sold Barnbygate House to the Newark Town and District Club in 1933, retiring himself to Westby House in Southwell.

One member of the Town Club who oversaw the purchase was Mr Reg Randall (pictured) who is now in his 93rd year and the club's oldest member.

He recalls how, back in 1933, acquiring such a magnificent building well illustrated the advances made by the club since its formation 50 or so years earlier.

The Newark Town and District Club was formed in 1865 in a room at the Robin Hood Hotel at Beaumond Cross.

By 1927 membership stood at about 100 and following the move to Barnbygate continued to grow steadily; 146 by 1946, 250 by the mid-Sixties and reaching an all-time high of about 300 in the Seventies.

Over the years the membership has featured many of the town's most distinguished citizens including mayors, aldermen, leading industrialists, JPs and MPs.

In the Twenties, T. E. Lawrence - Lawrence of Arabia - was a regular visitor to the club when he was stationed at RAF Cranwell. Aircraftman Shaw would ride over to Newark on his large Brough motorcycle to play snooker.

Since that time the club's snooker rooms have welcomed many famous exponents of the game - Joe and Fred Davies, Cliff Thorburn, Dennis Taylor and Alex Higgins have all played exhibition matches there.

Tradition runs strong at the Newark Town Club and after 134 years it is still a distinctly male preserve, built in the tradition of a gentleman's club.

Full membership is still reserved exclusively for men, although women are now admitted at lunchtimes and at regular dining evenings as associate members.

As the club moves towards the 21st Century, it not only continues to prosper but is also helping to ensure that one of Newark's most important historic buildings is maintained and preserved for future generations.

TOP: The newly restored entrance hall with Victorian tiled floor.

ABOVE LEFT: Mr Reg Randall at the door of the Newark Town and District Club in Barnbygate, Newark. Now aged 92, Mr Randall is the oldest member of the club and well remembers its move to Barnbygate in 1933.

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