Step inside Newark Castle’s Gatehouse with Barry as he shares highlights from his latest site visit. From the careful lifting of enormous timber beams to seeing King John’s Room for the first time since its new flooring and leaded windows were installed, the transformation is becoming increasingly visible. Barry also explores the emerging viewing platform and reflects on the next phase of work as the Gatehouse is prepared for winter and its future reopening to visitors.

Inspired by the modern sign-in book used during the Newark Castle Gatehouse Project, this blog imagines what a visitors’ book for Newark Castle might have revealed over the past 900 years. From medieval bishops and monarchs to Civil War figures and Victorian artists, it explores the people who shaped the Castle’s story. It also celebrates the countless workers, residents and visitors whose footsteps have left a lasting legacy.

Discover the hidden side of Newark Castle in the latest Gatehouse Project update. Explore remarkable spaces concealed within the Castle walls, from the impressive vaulted undercroft and misunderstood ‘dungeon’ rooms to centuries-old graffiti and protective witch marks. As restoration work continues, these hidden features are helping to reveal Newark Castle as a sophisticated multi-level medieval structure, with stories waiting to be rediscovered by future visitors.

Step inside Newark Castle’s Gatehouse and discover the latest progress on this exciting restoration project. From the emerging Visitor Centre and North-West Tower to fascinating medieval features hidden within the walls, this behind-the-scenes update reveals how craftsmanship, archaeology and conservation are bringing the Castle’s stories back to life. Explore newly uncovered details, stunning views and the layers of history shaping Newark Castle’s future.

Accessibility is at the heart of the Gatehouse Project. In this blog, we explore how Newark Castle is being transformed to welcome more visitors through accessible paths, lift access, tactile interpretation, digital navigation tools and input from local accessibility volunteers. Drawing on observations from site visits and conversations with the project team, this article highlights how thoughtful, inclusive design is helping to open up one of Newark’s most iconic historic buildings while respecting its heritage.

In this blog, Barry returns to site for the first time in a month to see how much progress has happened in the short time he's been away.

This blog explores a largely overlooked tomb inside Lincoln Cathedral that is believed to belong to Bishop Alexander, also known as Alexander the Magnificent, the 12th-century bishop responsible for building Newark Castle's iconic Gatehouse.

Bishop Alexander's vision can still be seen in both Newark Castle and Lincoln Cathedral. This blog explores how these Norman landmarks were designed for different purposes, one to inspire awe, the other to govern. It also reflects on how today's conservation work continues a centuries-old tradition of protecting and preserving our heritage.

Once one of Bishop Alexander’s three great castles, Banbury Castle played an important role in medieval England before being demolished after the Civil War. Today, almost nothing remains above ground. Its story of survival, loss and rediscovery highlights the importance of protecting sites like Newark Castle, which still retains much of its historic character and presence.

Newark Castle is a site shaped by over a thousand years of history, with each era leaving visible and hidden traces. The Gatehouse Project carefully balances preservation and progress, ensuring vital archaeology and historic fabric are protected while introducing new features like the Garden Room, restored Tudor chimney, and emerging Visitor Centre. Every element is designed to sit lightly within the landscape, respecting the castle’s past while preparing it for future generations.