Newark Castle

Newark Castle is a tower house that dates from the 15th or 16th century, situated on a rocky outcrop. The original part of the tower has two construction periods, starting as a square structure before a later rectangular addition. In the 17th century, additional features were removed to make way for an ornate Baronial extension designed by David Cousins around 1850. A further wing in a simpler Baronial style was added by James Miller between 1907 and 1908. The tower is harled, while the later additions are made of sandstone ashlar and feature string courses, pedimented dormers, crow-stepped gables, balconies, and pepper-pot tourelles.

On the southeast elevation, there is a four-storey, three-bay tower on the right with a machicolated parapet, which extends to a fourth bay on the left that features bipartite windows and a pedimented dormer. To the left is a three-storey mid-19th century Baronial wing with an advanced crow-stepped gabled entrance bay above an architraved doorpiece, forming the principal elevation, and single and bipartite multi-paned windows on each floor. Adjacent to this is a three-storey early 20th century wing with crow-stepped gables on the end bays and a central section with a balustrade, showcasing irregular fenestration.

The northeast elevation features the tower house on the left, with a mid-19th century advanced wing in the center that has a rounded corner bartizan topped with a conical roof. The central two bays have pedimented wallhead dormers and an advanced crow-stepped gable, which includes a large heavily corbelled oriel window supported by a consoled balcony, flanked by pepper-pot tourelles. To the right is a six-bay early 20th century wing, which has a crow-stepped gabled outermost bay and a canted bay window on the first and second storeys.

Inside, the ornate mid-19th century interior scheme by Cousins remains, featuring a barrel vaulted Drawing Room with decorative shell alcoves and marble fireplaces, an exposed masonry barrel vaulted Dining Room located in the tower house, and a stair and upper hall with deep decorative cornicing. The billiard room in the 1908 wing retains its original early 20th century interior scheme.