Cost of castle scheme could rise above £8m

The cost of restoring an historic site in Nottinghamshire could rise above £8m according to Newark and Sherwood District Council documents.

Newark Castle is undergoing multimillion-pound works to open up the original gatehouse, restore access to parts of the surviving walls and improve accessibility.

The authority's cabinet has been recommended to approve proposals on Tuesday to increase the budget for the scheme by up to £1.5m, taking its total cost to more than £8m.

According to council documents there had been "two unexpected and potentially significant archaeological findings".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said Newark Castle was originally built in the mid-12th Century by Bishop Alexander of Lincoln, who was known as Alexander the Magnificent.

Newark Castle survived three sieges during the English Civil War but was partly demolished on the orders of Oliver Cromwell.

Archaeologists previously said they found what they believed to be a cesspit associated with one of the castle's garderobes - toilets - possibly dating back to the 13th or 14th Century, as well as a wall associated with town fortifications, observed on a 1646 map.

According to a council report, a well has also been discovered in the centre of the gatehouse, which it described as an "unusual location" that required further investigation.

"Both discoveries are being researched by the archaeological team and our academic experts and will improve and update our understanding of the castle's history," documents added.

The council said an inspection of the chimney on the gatehouse had revealed a "large crack and severe deterioration" of the stonework, which required a carefully documented rebuild of the chimney.

"These challenges have inevitably led to some significant delays on site, and Newark and Sherwood District Council continues to work closely with the contractor to reduce the impact of these on both cost and budget," it said.

The LDRS said the £8,064,860 budget would be funded by £3.3m from the Towns Fund, £1.24m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £1m from the council's change management reserve with another £1.5m proposed from this fund, as well as council borrowing totalling £981,240.

It added no timescale had been given for the opening of the site.

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