Chilling in Newark

From our mooring we can see the back of this lovely old building and wondered what it was.It turned out that it was the old Corn Exchange which dates from 1848 when it was a corn exchange for merchants and farmers.It was a bingo hall from 1971 to 1993 and a nightclub from 1994 to 2011 but unfortunately now is empty, unused and up for sale.

You don't see many of these going along the main street any more . Although its a lovely sight to see he was holding up the traffic and there were some very irate motorist queued up behind him.

In to the main square in Newark and we came across this market . Now Carolyn is in her element as she drags takes me around all the stalls.

“Not another bloody Weatherspoon's said Carolyn. But it would be rude not to have a breakfast says me . We did and it went down a treat.

We then went and had a look around The Church of St Mary Magdalene which has been a place of worship for the townspeople of Newark on Trent for over 800 years.

It is notable for the tower and the octagonal spire (236 feet (72 m) high), the highest in Nottinghamshire and reputed to be the fifth tallest in the UK. The central piers remain from the previous church, dating from the 11th or 12th century. The upper parts of the tower and spire were completed about 1350; the nave dates from between 1384 and 1393, and the chancel from 1489. Its well worth a visit if you are in Newark.

It was then to Newark Castle which overlooks our mooring on the river Trent .The castle in Newark, in the English county of Nottinghamshire was founded in the mid 12th century by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln. Originally a timber castle, it was rebuilt in stone towards the end of the century. Dismantled in the 17th century after the English Civil War, the castle was restored in the 19th century, first by Anthony Salvin in the 1840s and then by the corporation of Newark who bought the site in 1889. The Gilstrap Heritage Centre is a free-admission museum in the castle grounds about the history of the town of Newark. I just love the word free and this is another must place to visit when in Newark

When we got back to Inca we were surprised to get a knock on the side of the boat . When we went out we saw our friend Dave from cruiser Dragon who along with Carmel were above the lock and looking for a mooring in the town. We went straight up and locked them down and then they moored in front of us. We have not seen them for a long time so it was good to catch up and as they are heading the same way as us we have decided to cruise together for the next few days.

This is the gardens next to Town lock which are Canal and River Trusts. It just shows what the Trust can do although it seems to do more up North than it does down South which is something I just don't understand

Just love this sign . Not sure if it works as we still see dog Poo and bags full of it all over the towpath .

Tomorrow with Dave and Carmel we will head down to Cromwell lock where we will have to book in for our passage on the tidal Trent down to Torksey.

                                                                                                 Happy Days