Major Newark Castle Gatehouse project works start by Messenger BCR Group, following investment by Newark and Sherwood District Council and National Lottery Heritage Fund

Work to preserve Newark Castle for future generations and enhance it as a prime tourist destination is now underway — with the aim of opening by the end of next summer.

The Newark Castle Gatehouse Project will see the 900-year-old Grade I listed building's Romanesque gatehouse restored as the main entrance to the castle, with a new approach ramp, while alterations will be made to the existing castle to create a visitor centre, gallery spaces, and open up access to the tower.

Preparatory and archaeological works began in June, and scaffolding is due to be erected in September before heavy machinery moves in and building works can commence in earnest.

Newark Castle project development manager, Sarah Clarke, said: “We’re not rebuilding the castle or replacing anything, we’re enhancing and opening it up for people to enjoy.

“This is a really incredible resource, and we want to be able to tell stories and teach people about the history of this building and the town.

“Currently, a lot of tourists will visit Newark, take a look at the castle, and leave — even a lot of local people think that it is just a wall, but it’s not.

“This project is about restoring pride, reinvigorating the town centre, helping us to understand our history, and giving visitors a reason to come to Newark and stay.”

There is also a much more practical reason behind the project, with Sarah adding: “Regularly conserving a building of this age is very expensive — if we don’t do it now, the future of Newark Castle won’t be secure.

“The fabric of the building is 900 years old, and once it has re-opened, it will bring in funding which will allow us to continue to look after it in a much more sustainable way.”

Planning permission was approved by Newark and Sherwood District Council last year, with Historic England consulting on the project as the castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The new castle approach ramp will be stone built to mimic a moat drawbridge, with a multi-functional space below to be used for events and educational purposes.

This will lead through the original gatehouse into the castle grounds.

The new visitors centre and ticket office will be inset against the internal north eastern corner of the castle, and will be built from stone on the ground floor and glass on the first floor, in a contemporary design.

New staircases and a lift will be installed to take visitors up into the castle tower, where five gallery rooms will showcase the history of the building and artefacts from across the centuries.

A viewing platform will also be installed at the top of the castle tower, offering panoramic views of Newark.

The existing Victorian layout of the Grade II listed gardens in the castle grounds will remain, but new landscaping and planting will be implemented along the site’s eastern boundary.

All aspects of work will take place simultaneously, with project leads hoping for completion of the project by this time next year.

The work is being carried out by heritage construction experts Messenger BCR Group.

Site manager, Adam Feely, said: “It’s really great to be involved with anything of this nature.

“I’ve never dealt with anything of this magnitude before, but heritage is our bread and butter.

“It’s going to come with its own set of challenges. Due to its age everything has to be thought out properly and go through approval.

“You also never know what you’re going to find until work starts.”

Consultant architect, Joe Player, of Anotherkind Architects, is a specialist in conservation, and added: “There is an awful lot of expectation and pressure with this project.

“We are very conscious when working on scheduled monuments and important historic landmarks such as this.

“We are only a small part of this building’s journey and it is a privilege to be a part of.

“We will take great care to make sure that it will still be here in another 1,000 years.”

The project is backed by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Government’s Towns Fund, and Newark and Sherwood District Council.

This includes funding to provide five years worth of free activities and events to further enhance the visitor experience at the castle.

Newark and Sherwood residents will also be eligible for discounted £5 adult tickets, which are valid for a full year to encourage repeat visits, and free entry for under-25s.

The castle grounds will remain closed to the public until the end of the project, while tree protection zones have also been established to ensure that the existing mature trees are not damaged during construction.

Public drop-in sessions are being planned for Wednesday, August 13, from 4pm to 7.30pm, and Saturday, September 6, from 11am to 3pm.

These session will give members of the public a chance to view the plans in more detail and ask questions about the project.