Newark Castle

Newark Castle. . At the time of the Civil War, Newark Castle and much of the land around Newark, was owned by the Crown. James I and Charles I were frequent visitors to Newark and would have stayed in the castle. This relationship with the Crown was one reason Newark chose to fight for the Royalist cause., The castle's strategic position at the crossroads of the Fosse Way and the Great North Road, and guarding the last crossing place of the River Trent before it becomes tidal, led to Newark being known as the 'Key to the North'. Soldiers came to Newark to defend the King's stronghold, tripling the population of Newark. Although many would have stayed with townspeople, some would have been garrisoned within the castle., The Scot's army, allies of the Parliamentarians, were encamped across the river and would have been visible from the castle walls. Scars from cannon balls can still be seen on the wall close to the river. Despite strengthening the castle walls, earthwork defences were far more effective against cannonballs than a stone castle, leading to the construction of the King's and Queen's Sconces, of which the Queen's Sconce survives.