Newark & Sherwood District Council

At the Resource Centre we offer a research service that gives everyone access to our Collection of objects and archives that are not on display at our sites or out on loan.

The Collections and Learning Team can help with enquiries and support individuals, schools and community groups on our premises, out in other venues or at events.

For more information on our collection of objects and archives visit our research and objects page.

The Resource Centre holds our extensive collection of over 70,000 objects and covers almost everything from mammoths’ teeth to a Sinclair computer and even includes the kitchen sink! Whatever you want to see we’ve probably got it!

There is archaeology, costume, art, social history, natural science, photography, maps, books and documents.

Art works and ephemera belonging to celebrities such as Lord Byron, W.E. Gladstone, Willie Hall, W.H. Cubley, William Nicholson and Bridget Riley.

If you are curious about local or family history, intrigued by the objects in Newark Millgate Museum, or keen to discover information about the objects we hold in our reserve collections, then our Resource Service is for you!

Our Learning and Community Outreach team love dressing up and showing off our collection too and they can come out to your function, school or community group.

We also have a selection of objects for handling that we loan out in Discovery boxes. These objects, photographs and laminated information sheets are an intriguing insight into national and local historical events, pastimes, cultures, trades and domestic life.

Our store is nearly full but we are always interested to look at items that you may wish to donate to our museum service. Please read our collections policy and contact us before you bring anything in.

Have you bought a house and are curious about its history? Are you looking for a photograph of your ancestors? Do you need help with a school project or just have a passion for something particular?

At the Resource Centre, we can help you find the objects of your desire. Using our collection, indexes, archives and computer systems, we can provide you with the materials to help in your research.

Our vintage photograph collection of over 12,000 images covers most of the Newark and Sherwood district.

The service is free, but there are small charges for image/ document reproduction and evening visits.

As part of our Night at the Museum programme behind the scenes guided tours are available for pre-booked groups of 25 people.

If you have ever wondered what that object in the shed is, or if the object you discovered while gardening or metal detecting might just be Roman, then we have just the service for you.

As part of our resource service, we offer object identification. Using our knowledge, reference books, contacts and our existing collection, we will do our best to help identify the object for you.

Occasionally we have a Finds Liaison Day where an expert archaeologist will help identify your objects.

Unfortunately, we aren't ‘Antiques Road Show', 'Bargain Hunt', 'Flog it' or any one of those programmes and so we don’t do valuations. However if you have found some real treasure we can help you to authenticate your find and get your reward.