National English Civil War Centre wins funding!

The bridge over the Queen's Sconce in Newark. © Copyright Richard Croft (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A £3.5m Heritage Lottery Fund bid to establish a National English Civil War Centre in Newark has been approved.

The award will provide the majority of the funding towards the estimated £5.4m project, which will transform Newark's Old Magnus Buildings into the Centre by September 2014 ...

I previously reported that the Council had been awarded £200,000 to develop its proposals. Newark played a considerable part in the English Civil War due to its strategic location on the Great North Road, the Fosse Way, and the River Trent.

Its surviving castle  - partially destroyed by the siege of 1645-6 - and Queen’s Sconce - one of the best preserved English Civil War fortifications in the country - are some of the main tourist attractions in the city. 

Other groups, including The Friends of Newark & Sherwood Museum Service, are now expected to aim to raise between £50,000 and £100,000 towards the remainder of the capital funding.

A computer-generated impression of what the Centre. Image: © Campbell & Co.

Newark and Sherwood District Council predicts the Centre - which will also feature other temporary and permanent exhibitions exploring other periods and the history of the surrounding area - could attract more than 60,000 visitors a year and generate tourism worth more than £100,000 a year.

The Centre will also play host to living history days, a conference programme and other events and activities for the public.

http://www.civilwarnewark.co.uk
http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/omb