Original wharf with some modern alterations and additions. Secondary to bridge of 1775 nearby. See NIAR archive file for detailed description. (1)
The Wharf comprises the historic Town Wharf on the west bank of the Trent and the street which curves around the former Ossington Hotel before joining Bar Gate to the east, this street was formerly known as Brewery Lane. [Attenburrow’s map of Newark, 1790, shows the Public Wharf - Inspire Nottinghamshire Archives ref. DD1440/102/R.] This was the site of the main river wharf (Town Wharf) from the 12th century. Although close to the castle, the wharf was located outside of the town’s medieval fortifications and the castle itself was serviced by a watergate which allowed direct access from the river. …Because the Trent was not always navigable until the late 18th-century improvements, the use of the Town, or Public Wharf as it was also known, was perhaps limited to local use. For much of its history, there do not seem to have been any buildings or permanent structures within the wharf itself. Attenburrow’s map of 1790, just marks the site as ‘Public Wharf’ without any indication of anything which may have occupied the wharf such as cranes or hoists for unloading barges, though presumably there would have been some form of mechanical assistance in place. At this date buildings were concentrated on the northern side of the street and were, by the time of Attenburrow’s map, all within the ownership of Mr Handley a local maltster and brewer. The 1829 Wood map indicates that there had been few changes to the arrangement of the buildings on the north side of the wharf between 1790 and 1829, and that this land remained in the ownership of the Handley family. One small building is depicted in the corner of the wharf area however the function of this building is unknown, and it had disappeared by the time of the 1885 Town Plan. The single storey, curving brick building on the eastern side of the wharf is mid-20th century in date and must have been built as commercial or light industrial premises. The Town Wharf has always remained as a large open area with warehouses for storage at its perimeter. It was still in use in the early 20th century, but today…functions as a car park with steps leading down to the river in the south-west corner and a grassed seating area associated with the Castle Barge restaurant on the western side. The buildings on the northern side of Town Wharf become increasingly domestic in scale and style as they approach the junction with Bar Gate. Examination of the fabric of these buildings suggest they are generally late 18th century in date. The buildings of the southern side of the street comprise former warehouses, dating from the late 18th to early 19th century, and this is consistent with this area having been used for the storage of goods from the wharf for most of its history. (2)

See L10966 for excavations, L10967 for Med pottery.

Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.

5 prints, 203w/7A-11A, RCHME

<1> TPAT, 1993, NIAR Gazetteer, p 89 (Published document). SNT252.

<2> Historic England, 2024, Newark on Trent, Historic Area Assessment by Historic England (Unpublished document). SNT6029.