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TimeRef.com
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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Newark Castle
Castle
Castle
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Newark Castle

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 County

Nottinghamshire (2 castles) 

 Categories

Stone

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

At any reasonable time

 Location53.07721,-0.812471 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Nottinghamshire (2 castles) 

 Categories

Stone

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

At any reasonable time

 Location
53.07721,-0.812471
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
ewark Castle was built by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, between the years 1125 and 1135. Alexander also built the castles at Sleaford and Banbury. King Stephen arrested Alexander in June of 1139 believing that castle building should not be something done by the church. Alexander handed over the castles to Stephen after being imprisoned and forced to live on bread and water. It was at Newark that king John died in October 1216. John had seen his treasures sink in the Wash and at the Cistercian house at Swineshead, reportedly poisoned. John moved from there to Newark where he died. William Marshal rallied an army at Newark to free the city of Lincoln from the Dauphin Louis. The castle was largely rebuilt in the reign of Henry III.

Location

See Also

People

  • John (King of England 1199-1216)
  • Marshal, William (Earl of Pembroke)
  • Stephen (of Blois, king of England 1135-1154)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Places

  • Swineshead Abbey
  • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Related Episodes

Civil War Stephen and Matilda (click here)

Civil War Stephen and Matilda (click here)

Wars of the Roses (click here)

Wars of the Roses (click here)

The First Barons' War (click here)

The First Barons' War (click here)

Timeline

1139

June

Roger, Bishop of Salisbury is arrested

King Stephen arrested Roger, the Bishop of Salisbury. Bishop Roger was a powerful landowner and had several castles. Stephen also arrested Alexander, the bishop of Lincoln and had him imprisoned. Stephen wanted to take control to bishop Roger's castles and the bishop was taken to his castle at Devizes where he was held captive outside the walls and starved until the castle surrendered. Roger's son was also captured and tortured until the castle finally fell to the King. Roger's castle at Sherborne was also captured by Stephen. The castles at Newark and Sleaford in Lincolnshire belonging to bishop Alexander were forced to surrender to the King using the same underhand tactics.

1216

October

Death of King John

King John died at Newark from excessive eating and drinking. Protestant historians of the 16th century wrote that he was poisoned by a monk at Swineshead in Lincolnshire. The monk received orders from the Pope to kill King John and took a small amount of poisoned wine himself to reassure the King and also died. But had King John become the Pope's ally before his death?

1216

October 19

King John dies

King John died at Newark. This was shortly after he lost his baggage train in the Wash estuary as the tide returned. There was supposed to be a large amount of treasure in the baggage train at the time and it has never been found.

1645

September 24

Battle of Rowton Heath

Battle of Rowton Heath. King Charles had been staying at Raglan Castle but the fall of his support in the south west meant that he was not safe there. Charles decided to move north to meet Montrose who he believed was marching south from Scotland. Charles was unaware of Montrose's defeat at Philiphaugh on the 13th. Charles reached Chester which was held by the Royalists but under siege and entered the city. An attempt to free the city failed and Charles abandoned the city and headed for Newark. ¹

1646

May 9

Royalists at Newark surrender

Charles agreed to some of the terms specified by the Scots and he ordered the royalist army at Newark surrendered. A few days later Charles ordered Montrose to disband his forces and to leave Scotland. The Scots then marched north with Charles as their prisoner to Newcastle-on-Tyne.

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Medieval people

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. C.H.Frith, Cromwell, 1935

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • John (King of England 1199-1216)
    • Marshal, William (Earl of Pembroke)
    • Stephen (of Blois, king of England 1135-1154)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Places

    • Swineshead Abbey
    • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

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