Civil war statue to move to town centre roundabout in October

A statue of Civil War Roundhead and Cavalier soldiers is likely to be in its new home in the centre of a roundabout from Sunday, October 20.

It is to be moved from outside Newark Library to the Beastmarket Hill roundabout near Newark Castle.

The foundations will be added in advance to bed in before the statue is put in place.

It will be surrounded by a brick wall with railings.

The erection of the statue has been scheduled for a Sunday to minimise disruption as a short road closure may be necessary.

The idea was the brainchild of Newark county councillor Keith Girling, who said it would be iconic in its new setting.

Newark Castle was the Royalist base that thwarted Parliamentarians during three sieges of the town during the English Civil Wars.

"I'm very excited," he said.

"It has taken a long time and a lot of hard work to get this done, not least in overcoming the health and safety aspect. But now this statue will be where I believe its rightful place to be ­— at a major gateway into Newark for all to see.

"I will be pleased to see it there and I know others will too."

The local planning authority, Newark and Sherwood District Council, said in a statement: “As the statue is less than four metres in height, as set out in the relevant planning legislation, relocating it to the Beastmarket Hill roundabout does not need planning consent from the district council.

"From a conservation perspective we have confirmed that Royalist claret is an appropriate colour scheme for the railings, which will be the same as that which will be used for repainting Trent Bridge and a match for that used throughout the town on street furniture such as signpost and bollards."

The statue has been vandalised in the past in its present location.

The sharp end of the Cavalier’s sword was snapped off, but was found and will be reattached.