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.

This week, we visited the site to see how the project is progressing. We found the newly erected steels which will support the lift and stairs to the castle’s first floor rooms. Find out more about the design philosophy along with Barry’s thoughts on the latest interventions.

The real story lies in the gaps, the silences, and the stones that have not yet been asked the right questions.

Barry used his site visit to reflect on windows into the past.

It’s a real privilege to be able to climb the scaffold ladder and get up onto the roof! This week, Barry joined the project team in marvelling at the skill and dedication of the masons working on Newark Castle’s historic fabric as they prepare to install the new roof.

This week Barry joined the archaeological team and Dr Pamela Marshall — a renowned academic specialising in the history of English and French castles — to hear about a rather surprising discovery.

Bishop Alexander ‘the Magnificent’ is said to have built three castles. In this blog, Barry looks at their locations and investigates the role they played as centres of medieval administration.

This week, Barry learns about Bishop Alexander and considers why he built a magnificent stone castle here in Newark.

This blog explores the earliest history of the Newark Castle site, why this location was chosen and what existed here before the Castle we recognise today. It sets the scene for understanding how the site evolved over time.