Around Newark

The historic town of Newark-on-Trent and the remains of its thirteenth-century castle are best known as the scene of Charles I's last stand against Cromwell's Roundheads in the English Civil War. Although less violent, its more recent history is no less varied and interesting. Situated on the Great North Road and the River Trent, the town quickly became an important trading centre. As it grew, industries such as iron founding, malting and engineering boosted the traditional agricultural economy to a point where, in the nineteenth century, Newark was one of the wealthiest towns in the country. The photographs in this fascinating selection reflect the many and varied aspects of life that this diversity of activity has produced over the last 100 years.