A team of student architects will unveil their vision for an English Civil War memorial centre at the site of Newark’s historic medieval castle.
The free public exhibition of architectural designs and models will open at Newark Castle on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June 2015, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the town.
A £5.4 million National Civil War Centre opened in the town centre Newark Museum earlier this year. As part of their Architecture course at the University of Lincoln, UK, second year students have imagined their own version of the facility inside the walls of the castle, which was central to the historic war.
The English Civil War (1642-1651) was a series of conflicts that profoundly reshaped politics and society. Newark Castle, which was founded in the 12th Century by the Bishop of Lincoln, was partly destroyed during a battle in 1646. It is now a Grade I listed building and recognised as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The two-month student project was led by Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture & Design, Dr Primali Paranagamage. She said: “We are very much looking forward to presenting our designs to the public. Newark is rich in historic architecture and we hope this exhibition will encourage residents and tourists alike to appreciate and celebrate the local cultural heritage.
“The exhibition will include some designs which are extremely modern and contemporary, whereas others stay true to the Castle’s architecture and the incorporate the site’s original features. It is so interesting to see how the same space – which in this case is of huge historical significance – can be interpreted in so many different and inspiring ways.”
In preparation for the exhibition, the Lincoln students were granted special access to archives by Newark Castle Park Warden, Floss Newman, to learn about the monument’s origins, how it has evolved over hundreds of years and its timeline of historic events.
The exhibition will take place inside the Undercroft of Newark Castle. Visitors will be able to view miniature models of the Castle grounds, which have been created using state-of-the-art laser cutting technology at the University’s School of Architecture & Design, as well as architectural sketches and computer illustrations. Members of the public are also invited to contribute their comments and feedback on each of the designs, both at the exhibition and online.
Admission is free and the exhibition is open from 10am-5pm on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June 2015.
For more information, visit: www.newarkexhibition.com
Wriiten by Elizabeth Allen
Press Officer