The Newark Castle Gatehouse Project is set to receive substantial new funding from the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, allowing the site to further enhance its visitor offer by opening up its hidden underground spaces, including three dungeons which haven’t been open to the public for a number of years.
The latest investment builds on earlier support from the UK Government’s Local Regeneration Fund supported by the Newark Town Board, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Newark and Sherwood District Council, which is already helping to secure the Castle’s future, restore the gatehouse, respond to the growing conservation needs, improve public access and enhance the surrounding gardens and green space.
Visitors will not only be able to step back in time and enjoy views from windows that haven’t been accessible for four centuries as part of the original funding, but, thanks to an additional £2.5 million from Mayor Claire’s Investment Fund, phase two of the project can proceed.
This next phase will open up all of Newark Castle’s underground spaces, including three dungeons, creating safer and more accessible routes into areas that have been largely inaccessible to the public for some time. The work will focus on conserving these spaces, illustrating their unique historical stories and using immersive audio-visual techniques to reveal the castle’s hidden history. Opening these spaces is something many members of the local community have long called for.
Two dungeons in the north-west tower will benefit from new ladders and lighting, while the Debtors’ dungeon in the south-west tower will undergo significant enhancements, including the installation of a floating glass floor that will allow visitors to view the historic features beneath.
The Undercroft, which has had limited public access in the past, will be transformed into an exciting and flexible new community venue, with improvements including upgraded electrical infrastructure and the installation of a floating floor. Once complete, the space will be able to host a range of activities and events, including film screenings, live music performances, educational visits, weddings and community gatherings.
The underground spaces will be accessed through guided tours, offering visitors a unique and immersive way to explore Newark Castle’s history. Audio-visual installations will help bring these stories to life, creating an engaging and memorable experience. Alternative audio-visual experiences will also be available for visitors who are unable or choose not to enter the underground spaces.
The funding will also support improvements across the wider Castle site, including safety enhancements to the bridge connecting the castle grounds to the waterside lock, improved garden lighting, more accessible pathways and new audio-visual projections on the Castle’s curtain wall.
Councillor Rowan Cozens, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said:
A big thank you to Mayor Claire for this funding that will make Newark Castle an even better and more exciting visitor attraction.Those familiar with the site will have already seen lots of busy building work taking place and once complete we’ll have a site that will attract national and international visitors to Newark. This project ensures the Castle remains standing strong for many years to come. We’ll be able to open new spaces in the Castle to the public and provide exhibitions telling of Newark’s rich medieval history. Thank you also to Newark Town Board and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with support from National Lottery players, who have made this project a reality. It’s an exciting development not just for Newark but the whole district.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said:
Newark Castle is a much-loved landmark with a story stretching back almost 900 years, so I am making this £2.5m investment to bring even more of that history to life for visitors from across the region and beyond. Unlocking the Castle’s hidden underground spaces will give people the chance to discover a fascinating part of Newark’s past that has been closed to the public for years, while ensuring these important historic spaces are protected for generations to come. I’m pleased to be working alongside Newark and Sherwood District Council, Newark Town Board, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other partners to make this ambitious project a reality and unlock the full potential of one of the East Midlands’ most important historic sites.
Liz Bates, Area Director, Midlands and East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:
We are delighted to be supporting these ambitious plans to revitalise the historic Newark Castle. The story of the castle dates back beyond the 12th century, and it’s fantastic that support from National Lottery players will keep this historic site relevant for future generations.
Penny Taylor MBE, Co-Chair of Newark Town Board, said:
The Castle Gatehouse Project is one of our key projects and, once opened, an enhanced visitor experience is created within Newark. This presents a fantastic opportunity to build on the project’s success by further developing the site, including opening the dungeons and creating an enhanced visitor experience. The dungeons will provide an exciting opportunity to bring Newark’s history to life through immersive interpretation, exhibitions and interactive experiences, giving visitors an even greater reason to explore the Castle Gatehouse and spend more time in the town. Further development of the site will not only strengthen Newark’s heritage offer but also support the wider visitor economy, encouraging increased footfall, longer stays and greater spend within local businesses. It will also provide an opportunity to showcase more of Newark’s fascinating history and establish the Castle Gatehouse as a major heritage attraction for both local residents and visitors from further afield.
Funding from Mayor Claire Ward builds on the Mayor’s Investment Fund announcement in autumn, which allocated portions of the £25 million fund to both the Yorke Drive Regeneration project and the Ollerton Town Centre Regeneration in Newark and Sherwood.
Councillor Rowan Cozens continues:
Newark and Sherwood is going through an exciting time with lots of development across the area. By being proactive and working in collaboration with partner organisations, we’re attracting funding that is helping to grow our local economy and strengthen our visitor offer.
Work on the Newark Castle Gatehouse Project and the access to the underground spaces hope to be completed later in 2027.
More on the Castle Gatehouse Project
Newark Castle has stood at the town’s entrance for nearly 900 years, serving as a beloved local landmark and a symbol of the town’s heritage. Recognised by Historic England as the most complete example of its kind, the gatehouse will be at the heart of this ambitious restoration project.
Plans include rebuilt rooms, new gallery spaces with lift access, interactive displays, and a tower-top viewing platform offering stunning views of the Trent Valley. The project will also protect the listed Victorian gardens and enhance the natural surroundings with a new lighting scheme, creating a safe ‘after dark’ experience and highlighting architectural features. Wildlife will be welcomed too, with bat corridors and roosts included in the design.
Throughout the project’s early development, the plan has evolved to better reflect the community’s hopes for the site, with residents offering feedback to help shape the final designs. Wildlife-friendly planting, more things to do, more places to sit, and paths suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters have all been incorporated into the project as part of the feedback. The District Council has worked closely with a number of specialists, including archaeologists, ecologists and access consultants.
It is anticipated that, once complete, the Castle will attract more visitors from outside of the district. This growth in visitor numbers will support sustainable economic growth, drawing people into Newark’s vibrant town centre and encouraging increased footfall for its excellent independent retailers, both during the day and into the early evening.
For more information on the project, please follow Newark Castle on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.newarkcastleandgardens.co.uk
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why, as the largest funder of the UK’s heritage, we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
By 2033, we aim to invest £3.6 billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.