The Friary
Appleton Gate, Newark NG24 1JY
The Friary: Monks, Muskets, and Molars
Once upon a Tudor time—around 1499, to be precise—King Henry VII decided to flex his royal piety by founding a house for the Observant Friars, a stricter, reform-minded branch of the Franciscans. These were no ordinary monks; they were the spiritual equivalent of boot camp recruits—disciplined, devout, and not afraid to challenge authority (which, spoiler alert, didn’t end well for them).
Although the friary was founded in 1499, it likely wasn’t fully operational until 1507. Henry VII, ever the generous benefactor, left £200 in his will to support the friars after his death in 1509—a tidy sum back then, enough to buy a small fleet of sheep or a very fancy hat.
But the good times didn’t last. In 1534, under the reign of Henry VIII (yes, the one with all the wives), the Observant Friars were suppressed—a polite way of saying they were shut down for being too loyal to the Pope. The site was handed over to the Augustinian Friars, who barely had time to unpack before the entire friary was dissolved in 1539 during the infamous Dissolution of the Monasteries.
By 1543, the land, churchyard, and gardens were granted to Richard Andrewes and Nicholas Temple, marking the end of its religious chapter and the beginning of its transformation into a private estate.
Fast forward to the 17th century, and the site had become a private residence. According to architectural oracle Nikolaus Pevsner, the building’s earliest parts date from this period. It was remodeled in 1770, and then again between 1868 and 1877, giving it a patchwork charm that reflects centuries of change.
Today, almost nothing remains of the original friary—just a few architectural whispers embedded in the newer structure. The property is privately owned, so no peeking through the hedges, please.
Now, let’s talk about the English Civil War—a time when Newark was a Royalist stronghold and the Friary Gardens were less about picnics and more about defensive ramparts.
Between 1642 and 1646, Newark was under siege multiple times. The northeast corner of the town’s defences—right where the Friary Gardens now sit—was fortified with a multi-phase rampart and external ditch. These weren’t just piles of dirt; they were strategic military installations designed to repel Parliamentarian forces.
The rampart still exists as a bank measuring 8 to 14 metres wide and up to 2 metres high, hugging the northern boundary of the gardens and continuing southeast into Friary Road, ending near Magnus Street. The ditch, now buried, once served both as a quarry for rampart material and a defensive moat-like feature.
A contemporary plan from the time even shows a bastion—a projecting fortification—jutting out from the northeast corner of the gardens. Archaeological digs in the 1980s confirmed that the medieval precinct wall of the friary was reused as part of the Civil War defences.
In more recent memory, The Friary was home to a dental surgery—a curious twist in the building’s long history. Locals still recall the slightly surreal experience of sitting in a dentist’s chair surrounded by centuries-old walls. It’s said that the only thing more terrifying than the Civil War cannon fire was the sound of the drill echoing through those ancient halls.
While the exact dates of the dental practice’s operation are elusive, it’s a cherished (or perhaps dreaded) part of Newark’s living memory. The juxtaposition of medieval masonry and modern molar maintenance is a perfect example of how history never really goes away—it just changes uniforms.
Today, the Friary and its gardens are a tranquil, leafy spot—albeit one with a Scheduled Monument status and a past that includes royal patronage, religious upheaval, and cannon fire. While the original friary is mostly gone, and the gardens are now a peaceful retreat, the earthworks remain, silently telling tales of Newark’s turbulent history.
So next time you stroll past Friary Road, remember: beneath your feet lie the echoes of monks, muskets, and monarchs.
Special mention to the MASSIVE Plane tree
No matter the season. The London plane tree ( Platanus Hispanica ) in Newark's Friary gardens never fails to impress.
It's such an enormous tree* and certainly my favourite.
*Apparently, the biggest London Plane tree in Nottinghamshire is at kelham hall, some 29 meters tall and a whopping 7.12m girth.
That's pretty girthy.