Castle set to house exhibition

Part of Newark Castle could be used for the Castle and Conflict exhibition currently in the Gilstrap Centre.

Newark and Sherwood District Council cabinet agreed on Thursday that the Gilstrap Charity be offered part of the castle currently used by the park ranger as office space, and a room above it for the exhibition or an updated version.

A new home is needed as the council’s general purposes committee, as trustees of the Gilstrap Charity, has agreed to lease the Gilstrap Centre to Nottinghamshire County Council for a register office.

Mrs Nora Armstrong said it was important that people still had access to the exhibition and felt the earmarked areas would be suitable.

Mr David Lloyd said he could not think of a better place for the exhibition than in the castle.

The cabinet’s decision will go to a meeting of the general purposes committee on November 12 which will decide, as the charity’s trustees, whether to go ahead.

Extra money needed to pay for work to Newark Castle was approved by the cabinet.

Mrs Armstrong said it had become clear that more work was needed once scaffolding had been erected to carry out urgent repairs.

As a result the cost had gone up from £130,147 to £276,137.

Members were told the extra money could be found from an underspend on the Sconce and Devon restoration project and from a planning agreement.

Mr Lloyd said it was absolutely necessary to ensure the work was done to the castle because it was such an asset.

Mr David Payne said there should be more regular inspections of the castle.

He said huge weeds had been growing out of the top of the walls, damaging the mortar.

Mrs Armstrong said there were annual inspections.