The Friary
Appleton Gate, Newark NG24 1JY
The Friary, Gardens, and Civil War Earthworks: A Journey Through Time
The Friary
The site of the Friary in Newark-on-Trent is steeped in history, dating back to the early 16th century. Originally founded around 1499 by King Henry VII, the Friary was home to the Observant Friars, a reformed branch of the Franciscan order. Henry VII, a patron of the Friars Observant, left £200 to the friary in his will upon his death in 1509. Despite its founding in 1499, the friary may not have been fully established until 1507.
In 1534, the Observant Friars were suppressed, and the friary passed to the Augustinian friars. However, the friary's existence was short-lived, as it was dissolved in 1539 during King Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. By July 1543, the former friary site, churchyard, and several associated gardens were granted to Richard Andrewes and Nicholas Temple.
Architectural Evolution
In "The Buildings of England," Nicholas Pevsner describes the property as having 17th-century origins, remodeled in 1770, with further alterations between 1868 and 1877. Today, almost nothing remains of the original friary, with only small fragments incorporated into the newer building. The property is private, and no public access is allowed.
Civil War Earthworks
The Friary Gardens also hold significant historical importance due to the remains of the Civil War earthworks. These earthworks include ramparts and a ditch that defined the northeast corner of Newark's town defenses during the Civil War. The bank, varying between approximately 8m and 14m in width and up to 2m in height, abuts the northern boundary wall of the Friary Gardens and follows the inside edge of the wall as it continues southeast into Friary Road up to the corner of Magnus Street.
These earthworks are interpreted as the remains of a multi-phase rampart constructed between 1642 and 1646, forming the northeast corner of the town's Civil War defenses. A contemporary plan recording the Civil War fieldworks constructed by the Royalist garrison defending the town clearly depicts the rampart, the external ditch, and a bastion projecting from the northeastern corner of the Friary Gardens.
Legacy and Preservation
The Friary and its surrounding gardens are a testament to Newark's rich historical tapestry. From its origins as a religious house founded by a Tudor king to its role in the Civil War, the site encapsulates significant periods of English history. While the original friary buildings have largely vanished, the remaining fragments and earthworks continue to tell the story of Newark's past.