Knights Templar focus for castle exhibition

The latest exhibition to be launched at Newark Castle looks at the story of the Knights Templar, whose link to the castle can still be seen today.

The display was unveiled in the undercroft on Sunday.

It has been created by the Friends Of Newark Castle using money donated by the public at events.

Several Knights Templar were imprisoned at the castle in the early 1300s.

Their prayer niches can be seen in one of the dungeons and Templar graffiti is scattered around the castle.

The exhibition has been researched and created by Mr Wayne Crawford, of Newark, a castle volunteer who works for the University Of Nottingham.

“When most people think about Newark Castle they think about King John, who died there in 1216, or the British Civil Wars and Sieges of Newark. This exhibition, however, uncovers an untold story of the castle,” he said.

“In 1307, a group of legendary Templar Knights were imprisoned there. These men once belonged to one of the most powerful and respected organisations in Europe. This exhibition explores the key factors behind this incredible reversal of fortune, and explores the evidence left behind by the prisoners.”

The exhibition is designed to be family-friendly, and people of all ages can even dress up as a Templar Knight.

'A lot of myths around the Knights Templar'

The Friends group has paid for new armour and swords as well as Knights Templar costumes, for adults and children, to accompany the exhibition.

The designs on the new shields, featuring the Templar cross and the Angevin coat of arms of King John, were devised and painted by Mrs Helen Wroe.

Mr Allan Towler, chairman of the Friends Of Newark Castle, said: “There are a lot of myths around the Knights Templar and this exhibition has been designed to explain the story of the incarceration of the Templars at Newark Castle in the 14th Century.

“We hope people will find it interesting.”

The display can be seen as part of the regular towers and undercroft tours.

Castle warden Floss Newman said she was delighted with the addition of the latest exhibition to the castle.

She said it revealed another chapter in the long, interesting story of the castle.

An exhibition marking the 800th anniversary of the death of King John at the castle opened in its north-west tower.

Friends Of Newark Castle are working on another exhibition in the opposite tower.

The focus of the latest exhibition will be the marriage of Lady Elizabeth Manners, daughter of of the 3rd Earl of Rutland, to William Cecil — Lord Burghley — at the castle in 1589.