Newark Castle's hidden dungeons to open in £2.5m Gatehouse boost

For more than 900 years, Newark Castle has stood at the gateway to Newark-on-Trent. Now the town is preparing to see it as never before, thanks to the ambitious Gatehouse Project and a fresh £2.5 million funding boost announced on 8 October 2026.

The money comes from the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, and unlocks phase two of the project. It will open up all of the castle's underground spaces, including three dungeons that have been closed to the public for years. Two dungeons in the north-west tower will get new ladders and lighting, while the Debtors' dungeon in the south-west tower will gain a floating glass floor so visitors can see historic features below. The Undercroft will become a community venue for film screenings, live music, weddings and more.

Councillor Rowan Cozens of Newark and Sherwood District Council said: "This project ensures the Castle remains standing strong for many years to come." Penny Taylor MBE of the Newark Town Board added: "The dungeons will provide an exciting opportunity to bring Newark's history to life through immersive interpretation."

The wider Gatehouse Project will bring rebuilt medieval rooms inside the Gatehouse, new gallery spaces with lift access, immersive displays and a tower-top viewing platform with views over the Trent Valley. The Victorian gardens are being restored and relit, with wildflower planting and roosts for bats.

The castle's story is worth the wait. It was built in the mid-12th century by Bishop Alexander of Lincoln, who also set up a mint there. King John died in October 1216 after a stay at the castle, traditionally blamed on a surfeit of peaches. The castle was slighted in 1648 after the Civil War, restored by Anthony Salvin in the 1840s and bought by the town in 1889. It is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.

Support has also come from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Government and Newark and Sherwood District Council, which runs the castle. The castle is currently closed while the work takes place, with completion expected later in 2027.

Progress updates and reopening news are on the Newark Castle and Gardens website.