Entries open for the Newark Civic Trust Awards

Entries are open for a competition that recognises outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment.

The Newark Civic Trust Awards presents the award to a building or restoration project that has a positive impact on the built historic environment of Newark, and aims to recognise quality design and workmanship.

Peter Duncan, chairman of Newark Civic Trust said: “These aren’t large developments and designs, there are other competitions for that, this one is for the smaller scale, the tiny details, the things that often get lost but which brighten up our days.

“We enjoy seeing them when we go past, we may not notice them for a while and we suddenly enlighten them and they cheer us up and add to the quality of the environment and our lives.

“These tend to be buildings that are eye-catching, distinctive and high-quality.”

The competition is open to anyone from the Newark area, but is aimed at buildings pre-dating World War II.

The winner will receive a commendation certificate and a plaque, and two runners-up will also receive a certificate with the recognition of their buildings.

Peter added: “Mostly what they get is recognition of their efforts, recognition for the value that they have attached to what is older and worth saving.

“I think it is at the emotional level, as much as anything, that their efforts are recognised among their peers and the community at large.”

The idea behind setting up the Newark Civic Trust Awards came from observing a careful conservation that was done years ago, of a small garden boundary wall in Wellington Road, Newark.

The wall had some intricate wrought iron features that had fallen into disrepair.

As the road was not in a conversation area, it would have been easier and cheaper to have the wall demolished, however, the owners at the time decided to restore it.

It resulted in an attractive and interesting feature in a street that is now in the redrawn Newark conversation zone.

The National Civic War Centre received the award in 2017, due not only to the restoration work the building went through but for the impact it had and continues to have on tourism in Newark.

Peter Duncan’s building at 85 Bancroft Road, Newark, received an award for the retention of original leaded lights when installing double glazing.

It demonstrated how small things, even retained, can add to the value of the environment.

“That’s one that I saved from being demolished, but the lovely leaded windows from the 1930s I saved from being removed at the time.

“The tenants had to get double glazing because it was too cold without it and I resisted for a while because these were lovely windows but I said it has to be done so let’s preserve what can be preserved, which helps make it look distinctive, even if it cost me a little more,” added the Trust chairman.

People have until August 30 to submit their entries and can do some by correspondence or email to the Trust’s secretary Kevin Winter by emailing at kevinwinter28@yahoo.co.uk.

Entrants should confirm if they wish to enter their own property, or submit somebody else’s, ideally with photographs as an attachment.

If unable to do it online, people can say the property’s address and why they think it is worth entering the competition.

Over the past years, the Newark scheme became part of the National Civic Awards scheme and larger projects deemed suitable for recognition, however, with the increasing number of changes and new projects taking place in the area covered by the trust, there is a chance of losing the distinctiveness of the features.

The Newark Civic Trust would like to add a generous mention of Suzanne McCarthy as their originator and pioneer.