newark civic trust...04 i newark civic trust issue 69 of the newark civic trust magazine is the last...

Newark Civic Trust I 01

Issue 69 | September 2013

Newark Civic TrustMAGAZINE

Caring about the town’s environment

02 I Newark Civic Trust

CONTENTS

Newark Civic Trust Magazine

Editor Rupert Vinnicombe

Print Willsons Printers

Content is kindly provided by various contributors

Front cover illustration Rupert Vinnicombe

Rear cover illustration Supplied by Rupert Vinnicombe

Sponsorship

Willsons Group Services Tel: 01636 702334

Executive Committee Officers Chairman: Mr George Wilkinson, The Cottage, Lincoln Road, Newark NG24 6HH 01636 671413

Secretary: Mr Rupert Vinnicombe 36 Winchilsea Avenue, Newark NG24 4AD 01636 689081

Treasurer: Ms Amanda Ferguson, C/O Duncan & Topliss, 14 London Road, Newark NG24 1TW 01636 640321

Membership Secretary: Mr Neil Hinchley, 24 Beacon Heights, Newark, NG24 2JS 01636 704699

Chairman of Planning: Mr Michael Hawes, 7 Beacon Hill Road, Newark NG24 1NT 01636 611349

www.newarkcivictrust.org.ukemail [email protected]

Corporate membersBritish Sugar NewarkBenoyTallentsRichard Watkinson & Co CBP ArchitectsHodgson ElkingtonGuy St John TayloreSurvJeffrey Keays Associates CGMS

A few words from the 03 Chairman George Wilkinson

Message from the Editor 04 Rupert Vinnicombe

Tunnel Vision 05 George Wilkinson

A visit to Staythorpe 07 Power Station Neil Hinchley

Civic Trust visit to 08 Staunton Hall Rupert Vinnicombe

Jalland’s Row 10 Mick Gill

Newark Museum and 13 National Civil War Centre project update Bryony Robbins

From Blue Light to the Blues? 14 Madaleine Combie

A visit to the National Brewery 16 Centre at Burton upon Trent Rupert Vinnicombe

Front cover photo Barrel delivery dray from the National Brewery Centre at Burton up on Trent


A few words from the

ChairmanCurrent terminology is too easily manipulated. As an example, environmental conservation – to the Trust this mainly means buildings. To the Royal Horticultural Society, it predominantly means parks, gardens and green spaces. What we need is a definition!

Affordable housing is another term even more prone to corruption than the above. Affordable to whom? In Southwell, for instance just a few years ago, five-bedroomed houses were built in the town centre and marketed as affordable. Doesn’t that preclude such a purchase by those of

us with more modest means – is that the intention? Surely not, after all we are a classless nation.

George Orwell wrote in his book “1984”, “All are equal but some are more equal than others”. How true!

George Wilkinson Chairman

Scale model of the Burton Breweries in the Victorian periodSee: A visit to National Brewery Centre article


Issue 69 of the Newark Civic Trust magazine is the last edition that I shall be editing as I am standing down from the Executive Committee at the Annual General Meeting on 26th September 2013.

I joined the Committee as Secretary on my retirement from the library service in 2006 and have been extremely proud of the work we have achieved as a Trust during my 7 years. We have seen the development of the website which announces events, provides access to the Trail leaflets, links to other like minded organisations and most recently, a newly created page for our corporate members. I have maintained the website even with my limited computer ability and have appreciated the support of our hosting company the Newark and Lincoln based Design by Distraction and Tom Clarke in particular. I believe we have a valuable resource in the website and I am passing over the maintenance to a more computer literate Committee member in Michael Knapton and the Secretary’s duties are moving over to Ralph Harrison.

The further development of the ever popular trail leaflets provided me with the opportunity to work closely with George Wilkinson and Mick Gill to give us 8 guides to the town of the highest quality. The revised reprint of the Malting and Brewing Trail was particularly pleasing for the financial support provided by Just Beer, Newark CAMRA, County Councillor Stuart Wallace and the Newark based Maltsters Association of Great

Britain. My interest in the subject is highlighted in the current issue with the article on a recent visit to the National Brewery Centre in Burton upon Trent.

Other articles include pieces by Trust member Madaleine Combie on a recent tour of the Magistrates Court and old Police Station. Mick Gill has provided a fascinating article on Jalland’s Row and also Neil Hinchley’s piece on the Staythorpe visit which I had to miss because of increasing Grandparent duties which is the main reason for my resignation. Our visit to Staunton Hall inspired me to put pen to paper again after hearing about a very long standing Nottinghamshire family with an amazing history. I was reminded of the work I was privileged to do with Edmund Staunton, our host’s father and the late Dr John Samuels in the eighties on the Newark Castle Trust. This enabled 3 archaeological digs to be completed in the castle grounds and the publication of “Guardian of the Trent” by Pamela Marshall and John Samuels. I have heard that the library service is planning to reprint this title in time for the opening of the new National Civil War Centre. Bryony Robbins has provided an update on the project for this issue and will be speaking to the Trust at the library meeting on the 28th November.

The Trust reaches its 50th Anniversary next year and at the time of writing we are negotiating with the Town Council to host an anniversary lecture to be given by Dr Martyn Bennett, Head of Graduate School at Nottingham Trent University and

a highly acknowledged expert and acclaimed author on the English Civil War. His topic will be based on Newark’s role in the Civil War and complements nicely the development of the National Civil War Centre.

The Trust continues to watch over developments in the town and our comments are noted by Newark & Sherwood District Council Planning Department. Even so, I remain deeply disappointed in the lack of progress on the Robin Hood site and in my view, what seemed to be a key part of the whole Lombard Street development remains an ugly eyesore alongside an equally unattractive supermarket.

Whilst I am standing down from the Committee, I intend to remain an active Trust member and a member of the Planning Committee and, hopefully, be able to contribute material for the magazine. The Trust must remain vigilant on change and future development in the town and ensure we preserve the best of the old whilst encouraging the best of the new. The Trust needs new members both on the Executive Committee and as ordinary active members and throughout my time on the Committee this has been a constant concern. I see the same problems of active memberships in other voluntary organisations and societies around the town and the Trust will have to find a source of new members or face the worrying potential problem of losing an important local heritage group.

Rupert Vinnicombe Civic Trust Secretary

Message from the editor


Thanks to the initiative of new owners of properties with cellars seeking a mite of publicity, the notion of a network of tunnels under Newark’s feet has been frequently revived, so much so that an official survey by Wessex Archaeology has been commissioned using ground penetrating radar to scan part of the Market Place, part of an on-going programme of investigation.

No tunnels were located in the half of the Market Place surveyed – no disappointment for me, since the likelihood of tunnels between the inns on the south side and the church seems fanciful in the extreme.

At the same time as the radar search, an organised examination of many of the cellars of properties adjoining the square, some not previously reviewed, were visited by experts and a report of the findings is due. No surprises were revealed there either. Properties of any consequence, hostelries in particular would need extensive storage for perishable commodities such as cheese, bacon and wine. Where better than in a cool cellar? Beneath the ground temperature is reasonably constant at 43˚F (7˚C). The temperature maintained by my fridge is 6 – 8˚C. Now there’s a coincidence!

Frequently I am asked if there is a tunnel between the church and Castle Gate. Yes! There is! From time to time, in the Advertiser stories appear regarding vehicles dropping through the street surface. An Advertiser report, repeated recently in the 100 Years Ago page, speaks of a horse and cart dropping through the

road surface in Kirkgate and horse, wagoner and cart disappeared without trace and were never seen or heard of again. My first thoughts were “Wouldn’t he be missed?” Reading it again, it seems much more likely that the driver extricated himself and quickly drove off lest he be summoned for damages.

More recently a similar incident occurred, again in Kirkgate, when a large modern type bin lorry dropped in. The offending orifice exposed a brick-built tunnel, but alas only a Victorian sewer. If there ever was an earlier tunnel, as a labourer / contractor charged with digging a cut and cover trench, what better opportunity to make use of an existing facility. If there ever was an earlier tunnel between church and castle as legend has it, how did it cross the castle moat?

The Town Hall itself, or more precisely the right hand wing of it, formerly

the Borough Police Station, now the YMCA Charity Shop and second hand furniture emporium has a door within, which when opened reveals a long flight of stone steps which in turn afford access to the original cells, built in or around 1773/4. It is still a foreboding place believe me. Any inmate would have been glad of an escape route. Closed in Victorian times because they were prone to flooding and replaced by the then “modern” cells and exercise yard still extant and easily viewed from the colonnade beneath the ballroom. Still not enjoyable, and the TV reception is lousy.

Adjacent to the other side of the Town hall premises, now occupied by NatWest Bank was once the site of the timber-framed residence of Hercules Clay. Records have it that it was mistakenly targeted by Parliamentarian soldiers from Beacon Hill, as the Governor’s House which was opposite (now Greggs) which

Tunnel Vision

Double vaulted cellar under The Olde White Hart


had been their intention. Alderman Clay dreamt several times that his thatched roof caught fire at night and on each occasion ushered his wife and children into the Market Place. Subsequently a blazing grenado set his roof alight, small wonder since there was reputedly a salvo of such projectiles – very effective when shooting at thatched properties. Remember! He had brought his wife and family into the square whilst such a bombardment occurred overhead; a tad risky to say the least! Far better perhaps to seek refuge in the cellar or even that of the inn next door, which would be under the Market Place. Was the report moderated somewhat so that a man of his social stature would not be demeaned; not that it is not too edifying to be foolhardy either. Heretical to challenge a legend, I suppose so, but then I am a cynic (and a country bumpkin to boot)!

Almost opposite the entrance to The Olde White Hart is a door that leads to a long cellar, used now to house the “mechanics” of a beer cellar, a tunnel which is bricked up at the north end and has a skittle alley at the other. It is also the location of ghost stories told by Ian Wallander to anyone brave enough to stay in the dark to listen. The bricked up end butts up to the old part of the Inn. My conjecture is that originally the extension and present cellar were the storage facility for the very busy original inn.

Porter’s Provisions on the corner of Market Place and Bridge Street beneath what is still a rather magnificent Georgian (strictly it is in Queen Anne style) residence. This too has extensive cellarage, some of it possibly belonging to a timber framed house. Part is stopped off by a door. Does it lead to a tunnel? It would be nice to know!

Now sealed at both ends, a continuous line of cellars extends, between them, the full length of 38 Castle Gate and the range of

buildings behind. Accessed, until the recent renovation of the above ground premises, by a wooden door near the front door and additionally from the river end of the range. This illustrates how long such a tunnel arrangement such as this could be.

Beneath the “inn” itself, at the Castle Gate end, the wall alongside the drive has a wall of Coddington stone (lias limestone) each only 0.5” thick built up to about 5ft. This is immediately beneath what could be the foundations of a timber framed range, an extension of nos. 42 – 44. Used lastly as the springing for a brick vaulted ceiling and a vertical brick wall forming the other side. The remaining cellars in the range are all brick built. This is the only cellar reported so far, to have anything other than brick walls and roofs. All, with the exception of the Old White Hart,I would suggest are 18C or 19C. In Civil War times 1642 – 6 (in Newark) bricks were an extortionately expensive luxury. Even on the very desirable Governor’s House, the oak bressumer beam across the front has a carved representation of stonework. Next time you’re in town have a look!

Reproduced here a piece of hearsay but undisputed regarding a tunnel next to Kirkwood, North Church Walk and occupied by the author

of this next piece, Trust member Joan Stephenson. Reports of the time that the house was built state that the house was to be one of a pair, but the ground for the second was too unstable and the plan was abandoned.

It is possible that Kirkwood is built atop the old town wall and the tunnel (the unstable ground), was a “Heath Robinson” construction putting a roof over the adjacent town ditch.

The houses nearest the Market Place in Carter Gate are also probably built on top of the remains of the wall. Look up any of the yards of the older houses. All passages rise to a peak suggesting the presence of remains. Should this prove to be remains of the old town wall, the back yards of these premises would be over the town ditch. Maybe we shall find evidence of makeshift cellars there too!

Most of the above is littered with conjectures and reasoned possibilities. I publish them now before official reports since if I do it afterwards people will suspect plagiarism. The nature of this beast is open to any challenge which will be most welcome, preferably not wrapped round a brick. The worst I can suffer is a red face!

George Wilkinson Civic Trust Chairman

Looking down the Swan and Salmon Yard to the Moorings – a distance of around 50 yards


Civic Trust members used the new Staythorpe Power Station for the June visit. They were given a short PowerPoint presentation about the owners and how the process works and then had a conducted tour of the actual plant. There are four electrical generators, each one driven by two engines – a gas turbine and a steam turbine. Chemical energy in the fuel (natural gas) is converted initially to heat energy in the gas turbines and the boilers, thence to rotational energy in the gas turbines and the steam turbines, and finally to electrical energy in the generators. The process is about 58% efficient which sounds rather wasteful but is the most efficient station in the country.

The site has a history of being used for electricity generation. It was chosen in the 1940s for the construction of one of the large post-war power stations that were needed by the UK at that time. The site was ideally situated near midlands coal mines (the fuel of choice at that time) and was close to the railway for the delivery of that fuel. There was also a copious supply of river water from the Trent for cooling and condensing the steam after it had driven the turbines and thus the generators. The station was completed in 1950 and had sixteen boilers supplying the six steam turbo-generators with a total output of 360 thousand kilowatts (360 megawatts or Mw).

By 1962 a new station had been built next to the original one. The latter became known as the “A” station, the new one was “B” station. Also

technology had improved such that, although the total output was the same at 360 Mw, only 3 boilers were required to drive 3 steam turbo-generators.

The stations provided work for several hundred local people and gave good service until closed because of competition from more efficient, newer stations that were subsequently commissioned. “A” station was closed during the 1980s and “B” station in the 1990s.

The present station (originally called “C” station but now merely referred to as “Staythorpe Power Station” because very few traces of the two old ones can be found), was planned during the 1990s and finally commissioned in 2010. By that time the site was owned by RWE Npower, the German-owned electricity, gas, and water company. Each of four generators is driven by two turbines – a gas turbine (similar in principle to an overgrown aircraft engine but using natural gas instead of aviation fuel), and a steam turbine driven by steam generated from the excess heat

recovered from the exhaust gases of the gas turbine. Thus the only fuel input to the site is natural gas which arrives on site at a pressure of 50 bars (about 750 pounds per square inch in old money). Domestic gas is supplied at about 20 millibars, so 50 bars is 2500 times domestic pressure.

It is a sobering thought that the combined output of the two old stations was 720 Mw and several hundred employees were required to operate and maintain the plant - maybe as many as 500. Now that natural gas is used it takes less than 100 employees and the total output is 1,740 Mw! Another modern development is the use of computers which allow the plant to be controlled from a Central Control Room with no-one on the plant at all! Indeed, on the evening of the visit only three employees were controlling the two generators that were operating. Another sobering thought is that the daily gas bill at full output is £1,500,000!!

Neil Hinchley Civic Trust Membership Secretary

Visit to Staythorpe Power Station, 27 June 2013

“A” and “B” stations in their heyday


On a damp evening in May, 26 Trust members were privileged to be able to visit Staunton Hall for a conducted tour by Will Staunton and our thanks go to Sarah Willis for arranging the visit.

The Staunton Family are actually one of the oldest families in the country who still live on their estates and they can be traced back to the Domesday Book though not always from father to son. There is evidence dating residence to1190 and there could be earlier occupation but this cannot be proven.

Our visit commenced in the large reception lounge area which is actually the oldest part of the Hall with a chimney dating from 1554 and confirmed by a carved inscription and family arms on the exterior wall.

Will showed us the thickness of the exterior walls which were around 8 feet thick and noted that the extensive Georgian alterations

of 1778-85 were by John Carr of York following his work on the building of Newark’s fine Town Hall between1774-76. Some of the detailing around the cornice and a door into the library and billiard room were actually exactly the same as some in the Town Hall. It is tantalising to consider the family being impressed with Carr’s work in Newark and commissioning alterations to their home!

The Staunton family is very well documented and we were shown a small selection from over a thousand items now stored in a muniment room in the Hall. These included two fascinating Commissions for Colonel William Staunton dated 1645 and signed by King Charles I.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, William Staunton was in Nottingham when Charles raised his standard on Standard Hill. William followed the King to Shrewsbury and fought for

him with some distinction at Edgehill after which he received a Colonel’s Commission authorising him to return home and raise troops in Nottinghamshire. He quickly enlisted, armed and equipped a regiment of 1,200 foot and a troop of horse at his own expense. The horse were under the command of Sir Gervase Eyre who distinguished himself in the many conflicts that took place around Newark.

At the beginning of 1645, Staunton Hall which was being defended by William’s wife Anne and a weak garrison of retainers was attacked by the Parliamentarians. The house was unable to withstand a siege and was quickly taken by the enemy and the marks of the assault are still visible as two falconet cannon ball holes in the old oak front door and dated 1645.

Mrs Staunton fled the house and finally took refuge in London but the Parliamentarians sacked the Hall and

Civic Trust Visit to Staunton Hall

Staunton Hall



sold off furniture and valuables. The family were authorised to return to Staunton Hall in 1646 and allowed to repair the damage. On the 11th May 1647, Colonel Staunton had a fine of £800 imposed upon his estate to be paid to Parliament for having borne arms against them. Farm after farm had to be sold to pay the fine

and other liabilities and William died in 1656 aged only 47. His son Major – from the old Staunton name of Mauger – further impoverished the estate before he died in 1660. His brother Harvey succeeded him and married an heiress bringing a much needed and sizeable dowry. Harvey died in 1689 but was the last

male heir and left the estate to his four daughters though further descendants assumed the name and arms of Staunton.

Staunton Hall was featured in “The Heart of Midlothian” by

Sir Walter Scott. After visiting Newark and Grantham, the author takes his heroine Jeannie Deans to Staunton and an engraving of the Hall appears in the Abbotsford Edition of the Waverly Novels. Will has a copy of the novel with the fine engraving for us to see in the morning room.

From the 12th century the Stauntons were closely connected to Belvoir Castle and a clear view of Belvoir has been continuously maintained from the wonderful tall windows to the south of the Hall. Will showed us a replica of a large golden key which is

to Staunton Tower at Belvoir Castle and is used whenever the Royal Family visit Belvoir – the most recent visit being around 1840.

The folly and bridge in the gardens by the small lake were actually built by Will’s father, Edmund in 1990.

The visit concluded with a visit to the Church of St Mary situated a few yards from the Hall. The Church was originally built during the 14th century but considerably altered and re-built in 1853.

Internally there are many memorials to the Staunton family, a beautiful Norman font, a delicate 16th century rood screen and an impressive Victorian boiler.

The church was used by the Parliamentarian troops as a stable and much damage was inflicted upon the various monuments.

This was a fascinating Civic Trust visit brought to life for members by Will Staunton, the latest representative of a local family with a long and proud history.


Staunton Family MemorialGardens viewed from the rear of the Hall looking

towards Belvoir

Inside the front door with two cannon ball holes visible


Situated on the NW side of Appleton Gate, opposite the former County Police Station, Jalland’s Row today comprises a group of renovated cottages which provide modern accommodation away from the bustle of the town. The Row originally comprised fourteen cottages, four facing SW, nine opposite facing NE and what appears to have been a free-standing cottage at the west end.

The four cottages were built in the1780s and were first known as Stansall’s Row, whilst the other ten, built in the early years of the C19, have always been known as Jalland’s Row. Access to Jalland’s Row today is through a tunnel beneath no. 41 Appleton Gate, still with its 1860s “Wellington Foundry/Newark” name-plaque in situ. The adjacent tunnel beneath no. 43 Appleton Gate was the former access to the original four cottages.

The Stansall’s Row cottages are two storey, double-fronted, one-room deep and blind-backed. Originally each had a living room and scullery on the ground floor mirrored by two chambers (bedrooms) above. A cast-iron grate in the living room incorporated an oven and hot water boiler either side of the fire with a grid to take cooking pans. A small grate was provided in the main bedroom. The cottages were built in reverse pairs so that the living rooms and sculleries adjoined to allow for a double stack of four chimneys for

Jalland’s Row

Entrance to Jalland’s Row from Appleton Gate


each pair. The western-most cottage appears to have had an archway (perhaps to a workshop) and an additional chamber above. The living rooms and main chambers had Yorkshire sliding sash windows (one fixed and one sliding panel) whilst the sculleries and small chambers had narrow casements. Access to each cottage was through a close-boarded door direct into the living room. The blind-back is well seen from the Appleton Gate car park.

The row of nine cottages were two-storey and single-fronted. As most butted up to cottages in the adjacent Emminson’s Yard it appears these had only a living room with a chamber above. Each had Yorkshire sliding sash windows and a close-boarded door. The arrangement of the stacks with a single chimney at the Appleton Gate end and four with a pair of chimneys reveal the cottages were built in a single and four reversed pairs arrangement. The numbers of chimneys also reveal that each cottage had only a grate in the living room. The appearance and internal layout of the free-standing house is not known.

The Stansall’s Row cottages appear on the 1790 Attenburrow Map, the accompanying list recording the owner as James Linthwaite of the Market Place. The 1790 Land Tax records James Linthwaite as the owner of a “house occupied by Mrs Lynch [on Appleton Gate] and four tenements”. Both the 1799 and 1801 Land Taxes record the owner as Thomas Bend but that for 1802 records the owner as Thomas Stansall.

The 1790 Map shows the area to the SW of the cottages to be open ground owned by Robert Martin. The ten cottages built here are listed as “Row” in the 1811 Census whilst the first reference to Jalland’s Row appears in the 1814/15 Property Tax Assessment. This records the ten cottages as owned by J Jalland and the four still owned by Thomas Stansall. References to both Jalland’s Row and Stansall’s Row appear

1885 Ordnance Survey Map - Jalland’s Row

The blind-back of the original Stansall’s Row from Appleton Gate car park


in the 1826 Poll Book published by Hage but as the 1825, 1827 and July 1831 Poor Rates list only Jalland’s Row with 14, 15 and 14 houses respectively, it is evident that the name Stansall’s Row dropped from use. However, the listing which accompanies the 1842 Tithe Award records the owner of the four cottages as “Stancell’s (sic) Trustees lesees of the Hospital of St Leonard”. Various changes in ownership of both rows are recorded through the later 1800s and as late as the 1911 Valuation both are still listed in separate ownership.

The 1885 OS Map clearly shows the fourteen cottages in Jalland’s Row. It also shows there to have been a pump at the street end of the four cottages and privies at the west end of the nine cottages. The tunnel beneath no. 43 Appleton Gate leads only to the rear of that property. Cook’s 1897/98 Newark Directory lists Jalland’s Row with “fourteen houses” but the 1897 Valuation records it comprising only nine, numbered 1 -5, with the four

of Stansall’s Row numbered 11 - 14. This indicates that the row of nine cottages now comprised only five. That the free-standing cottage was demolished is confirmed by the 1900 OS Map.

Examination of the 1958 photograph shows that nos. 1 - 8 Jalland’s Row had indeed been converted two into one. This can be seen clearly in the nearest cottage to the right where the first window beyond the door was originally the door to the adjacent cottage. Note the cottages are white-washed, a typical approach from the earlier days to create greater light within a yard. Also note the paved yard and central outside drain.

Jalland’s Row was condemned in April 1939 but the cottages continued to be occupied until 1962 when they were again condemned. They were put up for sale by private treaty in March 1979 but sold at auction in November that year with planning permission for renovation to form “nine town cottages”. Both rows were modernised, the SW row to

comprise four two-bedroom and one one-bedroom cottage, the NE row with three two-bedroom and one one-bedroom cottage.

John Jalland is recorded as a Merchant in the Assessment of Trade and Profits for the year ended 5 April 1807. He is shown as living on the north side of Lombard Street between Castlegate and St Marks Lane in the 1811 Census. Thomas Stansall was a Grocer with premises in the Market Place, next door to Samuel and John Ridge (today’s Porter’s) and is also listed in the 1811 Census. Thomas was Mayor in 1805 and 1819 and also one of the guarantors of both of the Newark 1d and 1/- tokens issued in 1811 when money was scarce.

Jalland’s Row is the last remaining old Newark yard with two inward-facing rows of cottages.

Mick Gill Civic Trust Conservation Watch Coordinator © Mick Gill July 2012

Jalland’s Row in 1958 looking towards Appleton Gate showing the four original Stansall‘s Row cottages left


The project is progressing on schedule with detailed planning looking into the listed building requirements, high levels of museum security, construction plans and further investigation into the condition and conservation of the buildings. The main contract is currently out to tender, with the aim to appoint by the end of July. On the current schedule, work is due to start on site in summer and be completed by winter 2014, but this will depend on the responses received from the contracting companies and the almost inevitable complications that will be uncovered during project development.

Historic Interior: Further research into the historic interior has revealed a vibrant colour pallet of deep reds, dusky pinks and dark greens, set against neutral backgrounds. We will reinstate the colour scheme in the Georgian entrance, Tudor hall and Georgian schoolroom, and echo the colours in the exhibition graphic design. An exciting development is the discovery of a wall painting with gold leaf in the Tudor hall, which might be a coat of arms or a

school motto. Further work will be undertaken to try to recover it, but it may be too damaged to reinstate.

New Build: Advanced designs have been submitted for the lift and stairwell

area, incorporating a small glazed atrium, which will allow visitors to view historic architectural features such as the Tudor chimneys and the gable end of the Georgian schoolroom. The new build section also incorporates a retail area at the entrance and exit to the museum.

Archaeology: Archaeologists Pre Construct have dug a test pit near the old museum entrance which revealed Georgian foundations from the school’s bathhouse. Unexpectedly, underneath this they uncovered course stone foundations typical of Medieval buildings in Newark. This earlier building indicates that the site has been in use for a longer period than we expected. The land for the school on Appleton Gate was bought from Ursula Benett in 1530, but we have no record of what might have been in situ.

Further archaeological investigations will be undertaken as the building work progresses. It is possible we might find evidence of Saxon or Norman buildings, such as post holes or floor layers. Archaeology work will take place this spring and summer, and we will be able to watch their progress through the safety fencing. The findings will be presented as part of National Archaeology Festival in July.

Newark Photographic Society will be working with us to record the conservation, restoration and construction projects as they develop. Photographs will be posted online so that as many people as possible can see the work in progress. For up to date information about the project you can follow the Twitter feed: @civilwarcentre, which also shows on the Newark & Sherwood District Council website: www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/omb/

Bryony Robbins Old Magnus Buildings Development Manager, Newark and Sherwood District Council

Newark Museum & National Civil War Centre

Project Update


From Blue Light to the Blues?

The Old Police Station in Appletongate and the adjoining Magistrates’ Court in Magnus Street have been empty and looking very sad for several years. When it was announced, in Autumn 2012, that the property had been bought by Lincoln College, in order to provide a new home for the Newark-based Violin Instrument Making and Repair School, Classical Guitar Making School and Piano Tuning, Maintenance and Repair School, a

member of Millgate Conservation Society (MCS) Executive Committee, knowing that quite a few students of the Violin School live in Millgate, suggested that a tour of their prospective new premises might prove of interest to them.

In my capacity as another member of the MCS Executive Committee, who also belongs to Newark Archaeological and Local History Society (NALHS) and the Newark

Civic Trust, I contacted the College and Jeanette Bell, the Newark Site Manager kindly offered to give a tour of the building, for up to sixty people, before any refurbishment and alterations started. Sceptical that such a large number of people would be interested, in January I duly advertised the tour to Newark Civic Trust, NALHS and MCS, also inviting Newark Town Hall guides and friends and two months later we had almost exceeded the maximum

The Victorian police station



number. Quite a lot of members belong to more than one of these groups and word spread fast. I even had two phone calls from the Newark Advertiser asking about the tour – I shall never know how they found out! I made sure that they did not mention it in the newspaper beforehand or we would truly have been overwhelmed. Their reporter, Dan Churcher, came along to report and take photographs and his article appeared in the issue of 4th April, entitled “Station’s past relived as musical future awaits”.

One of the attractions of the tour was that Terry Trickett, of NALHS and the Civic Trust, a retired policeman, and two of his contemporaries,

Trevor Wilds and Mick Postles, who contacted me via a notice on the National Association of Retired Police Officers website, joined the tour and talked to a spellbound audience about their life and times at Newark Police Station. They added their own stories from the past: Terry and Trevor retired twenty years ago and Mick semi-retired ten years ago, but all three worked together for some time and these reminiscences were mixed in with a discussion of the future plans for the building that was given by Jeanette and two members of the College staff who made sure nobody was left behind in the cells! Everyone else found the building was like a rabbit warren and the first tour group was never seen again by the second one.

Going downstairs to the basement of the police station was a highlight. As somebody whose geography is not too good, I found the chalked “Arthur Daley” on my right on one of the doors on the way in was very useful: I made sure it was on my left on the way out!

Sometime between the original announcement that the College had bought the building and the tour itself, it had been decided that the

Violin Making School would stay in the Watson Fothergill Old Bank building in Kirkgate so that the Old Police Station and Courthouse would only need to house the other music school departments.

This means that partially made violins will continue to be displayed in the windows in Kirkgate and be a talking point for passers-by and an attraction nearer to the town centre than they would be in Appletongate, on the School’s annual open days.

We await the refurbishment and re-use of the building that was Newark’s first purpose-built Police Station in 1870. Situated as it is on the opposite corner of Magnus Street from the Newark Advertiser offices, it will no doubt provide its staff with some more pleasant sounds than it did in its former life temporarily housing various ne’er-do-wells!

Madaleine Combie

Terry Trickett (in foreground) in the circular courthouse - one of only a few in

the country

You have been warned!

Getting lost Locked and barredA Hard Day’s Night


After a visit to Birmingham for a concert, my wife and I decided to make a detour to Burton upon Trent to visit the National Brewery Centre (NBC). I was particularly interested to compare the brewing and malting history of Newark with that of Burton where access to transport, the location on the River Trent, a strong local malting industry and a very similar water source and gypsum geology encouraged the industries to develop in both towns. Whilst it is pleasing to see a micro-brewery being created in Newark the industry remains in Burton though now owned mainly by the American Brewing giant Molson Coors.

The NBC originally opened as the Bass Museum in 1977 to celebrate the bicentenary of the Bass Company and it became the Coors Visitor Centre after the takeover in 2002.

The Centre incorporates large elements of the original museum and has received recently deposited material from industry wide sources e.g. Tetley material from Punch Taverns. The Archive at the NBC does have some material relating to Newark including information on Samuel Sketchley (c.1741 - 1831) the important early Newark brewer who was actually born in Burton upon Trent.

In 2008, Coors took the commercial decision to close the Centre which caused a major public outcry. The local MP called a meeting which led to the foundation of a task group determined to save the Museum and maintain it as a focal point for the town and the region. A successor to the task group eventually became the National Brewery Heritage Trust. The Trust was incorporated at Companies House and registered as a Charity in July 2012 with initial funding provided by Burton upon Trent Civic Society and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The company is now run by a small group of enthusiastic volunteers and includes representatives of the Civic Society, Burton Chamber of Commerce, CAMRA, the British Guild of Beer Writers and former brewing industry executives. The NBC reopened to the public in April 2010 as a museum and visitor centre and provides a fascinating guide to the history and development of malting and brewing in Burton and the UK nationally.

Brewing has been a major industry

in Burton upon Trent for centuries due to the quality of the water predominantly helped by the presence of gypsum. The water is obtained from boreholes and not from the River Trent and the sulphates present bring out the flavour of the hops – a process called “Burtonisation” where sulphates have to be added in other brewing locations.

Our guide to the NBC told the story of St Modwen, an English Nun and Saint who founded Burton upon Trent Abbey in the 7th century. St Modwen is believed to have performed many holy miracles at Burton Abbey and to this day the well on the site is said to have healing properties. Little did she realise at the time that this water would contribute to the major enterprise that became brewing in Burton!

Burton perhaps became most famous for its brewing of pale ale which was originally brewed in London and subsequently by Samuel Allsop in Burton in 1822 and by 1888 there were 31 breweries in the town supplying the demand for Burton ale.

Prior to establishing a brewery, William Bass transported ale for brewer Benjamin Printon who had already spotted the value of the export market by shipping beer to the Baltic States via Hull. He brought back timber, an invaluable material for a barrelling town like Burton at a time when the navy was using up indigenous timber for ship building. William Bass sold his carrier business to the Pickford family and used the funds to establish Bass & Co in 1777.

A Visit to the National Brewery Centre

at Burton upon Trent


The link with Pickfords - yes, the same company operating today – was emphasised as being key to the distribution of beer until the advent of the railways and this relationship was maintained by the Bass Company for many years.

Bass quickly became one of the major breweries in the UK and its India Pale Ale was once the best selling beer in Britain and widely exported throughout the British Empire.

The distinctive Bass Red Triangle label was used on their pale ale and bottles even feature alongside the champagne in Edouard Manet’s 1882 painting of “The Bar at the Folies Bergère”. When it sank in 1912, the RMS Titanic was carrying 12,000 bottles of beer and every single one was brewed by Bass.

During the twentieth century Bass

maintained its dominance through the acquisition of such brewers as Mitchell & Butlers, Charringtons, Carlsberg and William Stones. In 2002, Coors Brewing Company acquired Bass Brewers and 2004 and Coors merged with Canadian Brewer Molsons to become Molson Coors Brewing Company, one of the largest brewing companies in the world.

Another major name in the history of British brewing was the Ind Coope Company founded in Romford in 1799 and opening a brewery in Burton in 1856. Ind Coope merged with Samuel Allsop & Sons in 1934, then with Ansells and Tetley Walker in 1961 to form Allied Breweries - a familiar pattern of takeovers that saw the loss of our breweries in Newark.

A by-product of the brewing industry in Burton is of course Marmite. This product is made from spent brewers’ yeast and a very large Marmite jar highlights the location of the factory on the journey into the town.

To return to the visit to the NBC, our tour commenced with history of brewing with all processes covered in excellent detail. The malting exhibits included an explanation of the how the migrant workers - many from Norfolk - travelled to Burton for this backbreaking, and then, seasonal work. The term “gone for a Burton” is said to have originated from this migrant workforce.

Today, as we know from the demise of malting in Newark that it is a highly centralised and mechanised process. The Coors Tower standing high above the town contains 150,000 tons of malt for their current capacity of a staggering 1.4 billion pints which left the “factory” last year – much destined for supermarkets. The beers and lagers currently produced by Coors include Cobra, Carling, Caffreys and Worthington Creamflow - none of which appeal to the taste of this traditional beer drinker.

The role of steam in the history of brewing is splendidly displayed in the form of a working 200hp. Robey Steam Engine. The engines at the NBC were still in use at Bass’ Stamford Maltings until their closure in 1959. The efficiency of the steam engines throughout the brewing processes was emphasised as was the sheer beauty of classic Victorian engineering at its finest.

The NBC also has a range of all types of transport so vital in the evolution of the brewing process from its early home necessity to provide a clean and safe source of drinking liquids to the major industry that has developed today. All are represented from horse-drawn drays through to more modern delivery wagons. Essential to brewery site safety was access to fire engines and these were maintained permanently on-site as a legal requirement. In recent years we have

The floor malting exhibit Robey Steam Engine


The Brewing Experience Museum

seen the destruction of many malting and brewing buildings in Newark by fire and it was an ever present threat for the industry.

Two magnificent shire horses are kept on site and they live in their original brewery stables. The NBC has an array of traditional drays that were used to deliver beer in days gone by and were the mainstay of local beer deliveries. The horses are often seen working though usually as wedding transport these days! A saddler and harness maker has a workshop on site

displaying great traditional working skills.

The social history of brewing with special emphasis on the Bass breweries and Burton is a major part of the museum and occupies three floors of a converted brew house on site.

A scale model of the town in late Victorian times shows clearly the massive extent of the industry and the rail network at that time.

The building also includes the

William Worthington Micro-brewery and samples were included in the ticket price but with a 50 mile return journey, these were fortunately served in 1/3 pint glasses! The Worthington Red Shield on draught was excellent but the newly brewed Worthington E was far too reminiscent of the awful keg version from many years ago.

Railways were an essential means of transport around Burton and at one time there were more than 20 level crossings in the town. The beautifully preserved railway engine

Hand cart beer delivery Mash stage equipment



and VIP carriage was a reminder of the prosperity created by the brewing industry.

Molson Coors are in the process of modernising the largest brewery in Britain though the impression we came away with was one of a highly mechanised process requiring a small workforce without the need for traditional brewing methods championed by CAMRA, one of the most successful pressure groups of recent years.

The NBC is to be highly recommended for anybody interested in social history, industrial archaeology and history and a love of good beer. Perhaps an organised trip for Newark Civic Trust members is

worthy of consideration in the future, possibly in conjunction with the Burton upon Trent Civic Society?


Civic Trust Events Programme 2013/14

26th September, Annual General Meeting followed by a Newark Quiz set by George Wilkinson

31st October, “Wish you were here!” – A look at Newark on old postcards with Mick Gill

28th November, Newark Museum & National Civil War Centre project update - Bryony Robbins

30th January, Hawton Gypsum Works – Jason Mordan, Senior Practitioner of Historic Buildings with Nottinghamshire County Council

27th February, to be confirmed

27th March, to be confirmed

24th April, Newark Civic Trust 50th Anniversary Lecture to be given by Dr Martyn Bennett of Nottingham Trent University on Newark in the Civil War. To be held at Newark Town Hall and final detail to be confirmed

29th May, to be confirmed

26th June, visit to the Dovecotes at Sibthorpe, Flintham and Thoroton with Jason Mordan

Full details and any changes to the programme will be noted on the website and announced at meetings as necessary.

Talks take place in Newark Library and commence at 7.30pm other than the 50th Anniversary Lecture at Newark Town Hall

Rear cover illustrations: Civic Trust visit to Staunton Hall

Our tour guide with the Worthington promotion vehicle

Kindly sponsored by Willsons Printers

Newark Civic TrustMAGAZINE

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