Town Hall

Newark Town Hall stands on the west side of the Market Place in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. The Grade I listed building is made of ashlar stone in a neoclassical style. John Carr designed it with a symmetrical frontage of seven bays. A giant tetrastyle portico with Doric columns forms the centrepiece. The pediment above carries the borough coat of arms and statues of Justice, a lion and a unicorn. The building has served as the mayor’s office and council chambers since 1776. Its civic rooms include a council chamber, mayor’s parlour and a large assembly room. The assembly room once hosted law courts, public meetings and concerts. Speakers such as Caroline Ashurst Biggs and Jessie Craigen addressed suffrage rallies here in 1880. In 1914 the room witnessed the presentation of a silver casket to the Duke of Newcastle. Today the town hall houses an art gallery and museum open to the public. The restored interior reveals fine joinery and plasterwork by Moses Kilminster. Guests can view the grand ceiling and original fittings from the 18th century. The building’s exterior was renewed in 2017, preserving its historic character. Visitors find a quiet space where local history and art are displayed together.