Newark-On-Trent History of Queen's Sconce

cllrlaurencegoffnewark@yahoo.co.uk
Stories surrounding the land now know as Sconce and Devon Park date back to the 14th century with the legend of St Catherines Well. The Park has grown over its history, to include sports provision, local nature reserves, heritage features, play equipment, riverside walks, with the central feature being the internationally significant Queens Sconce (a Scheduled Ancient Monument), a Civil War fortification for the town, constructed in 1644, at a key point on the River Trent and Great North Road. The Park has also been home to some of the area's most significant industrial activity such as Scales Linen Mill in 1793 (which was then closed over a hundred years later in 1889), and the Hawton Works (gypsum quarry) was also established during the industrial revolution and by 1867 a horse drawn tramway was operating between the quarry and Spring Wharf through the Park. By 1901 the tramway was replaced by a railway, which operated through to 1951.The military was based at the Park during the First and Second World Wars.

This former free public library was purpose-built for the town by a very successful local maltster, Sir William Gilstrap, at his own expense and opened in 1883. It is located within the castle grounds in Castlegate.

Aerial of The Queens Sconce Newark
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11180982@N02/1063431872/

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~jimella/nwrkpub.htm
cllrlaurencegoffnewark@yahoo.co.uk

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