NEWARK, a town and municipal borough of Nottingham shire, England. Pop. (1930 28,055. It lies on the Devon near its junction with the Trent, and is connected with the Trent navigation by a canal II- m. in length. It is 120 m. N.N.W. from London by the L.N.E.R. Newark owed its origin, possibly in Roman times, to its position on the great road called the Fosse Way, in the Trent valley. In a 7th century document it is mentioned as having been granted to the abbey of Peterborough by Wulf here. Granted to the monastery of Stow by Godiva, it remained in the hands of the bishops of Lincoln until the reign of Edward VI. The castle was erected by Bishop Alexander in 1123, and the bridge about the same time. It was incorporated in 1549, and the charter was confirmed and extended by Elizabeth. A weekly market on Wednesdays, and a fair on the eve, day and morrow of the Invention of the Holy Cross, are still held; an other fair at St. Mary Magdalene and the four preceding days was granted by Henry III., and is probably represented by the fair now held on May 14. A market for corn and cattle is still held on Wednesdays, and another on Tuesdays for fat stock has been added. The church of St. Mary Magdalene is notable
for its tower and octagonal spire (223 ft. high). Its central piers, dating from the 11th or 12th century, remain, and the lower part of the tower is Early English. The upper parts of the tower and spire are Decorated, completed about 135o; the nave dates from between 1384 and 1393, and the chancel from 1489. There are a few old monuments, and a 14th century brass. The castle is supposed to have been founded by Egbert, king of the West Saxons. It was known as the "key of the North." The Norman stronghold still shows a gate-house, a crypt and the lofty tower. The building seems to have been reconstructed in the early part of the 13th century. During the Great Rebellion it was garri soned for Charles I., and endured three sieges. A late 15th century cross (the "Beaumond" cross) is preserved in the town. A grammar and song school was founded in the reign of Henry VIII. The town trades in malt, coal, corn and cattle. ThereViii. The town trades in malt, coal, corn and cattle. There are iron and brass foundries, boiler-works, agricultural imple ment manufactories and breweries. Gypsum and limestone are obtained in the neighbourhood.