Archival/written
The most helpful reference book on using town archives is:
- John West, Town records, Chichester: Phillimore, 1983
This section of the Research Pathway is based on the list of documentary sources printed in:
- A.G. Kinsley, Newark's Archaeological Resource: A Report for Newark and Sherwood District Council. Nottingham: Trent & Peak Archaeological Trust, 1989, pp57-63.
British Library
- Abstract of deeds relating to Newark (1680-94)
- Court Roll of the borough (1511-12)
- Rental (1554)
- Deeds (1556-1769)
- Charters (14th-16th centuries)
- Lease to the Guild of St Peter (1308)
- Fine in Northgate (1442)
- Grant of the Guild of St Peter (1470)
- Licence for endowment of chapel in cemetery of St Mary Magdalene (1293)
- Rental to hospital of St Leonard (13th century)
- Borough confirmation of privileges
- Various maps, plans and drawings
Use the British Library’s online archives catalogue for further details:
Newark Museums Service
A wide range of material: deeds, charters, accounts, court papers, certificates of settlement, quarter session records, 17th century siege plan of Newark, church accounts, photographs, maps receipts for the rents of tolls, documents relating to Phillipott’s Charity, court of Record (Sergeants at Mace, constables, Summons to enquire, bills of court costs), jury panels, writs, corporation accounts from 16th -18th, indentures of apprenticeship from the 17th century.
Newark Parish Church
- Documents relating to William Phillipott’s Charity (14th-19th century); Thomas Magnus’s Charity, Robert Brown’s Charity (16th-19th century)
- Records of work done on the church’s fabric (tower repairs, installing clocks etc)
- Terriers of vicarage and glebe lands (1770-1909)
- Translations of documents relating to St Leonard’s Hospital
National Archives
- Exchequer records (Lay Subsidies, Poll Taxes, Hearth Tax returns etc)
- Census (also available on microfilm at Nottinghamshire Archives and Local Studies Libraries, and online from various providers)
- Patent Rolls, Close Rolls, Pipe Rolls, Assize Rolls, Coroners’ Rolls
- Chancery and Star Chamber proceedings
- Court of Augmentations records
- Inquisitions
- Home Office (list of debtors in Newark Goal, 1789; returns of births and deaths, 1860 etc)
The National Archives catalogue is available online:
Nottinghamshire Archives
Collections at Nottinghamshire Archives containing material on Newark include:
- Foottit Family of Newark [DD/FN]
- Hodgkinson & Beavor of Newark, solicitors (1675-1950) [DD/H]
- Tallents and Company of Newark, solicitors (1344-present) – (includes many deeds relating to property in Newark and a selection of manorial documents for the town) [DD/T]
- Miscellaneous deposits from Newark Library (family papers, misc. correspondence, papers relating to Borough elections in the 1830s, deeds, ‘Newark Treasures’) [DD/1440]
- Newark Borough Quarter Sessions records (1720-1970) [C/QS/NK]
- Archives formerly held at Newark Town Hall:
- Lists of voters in elections (1780-1870)
- Burial registers (from 1794)
- Acts and Bills relating to lighting, paving, gas, navigation and enclosure (1772-1839)
- Hage’s manuscript history of Newark (1832)
- Corporation Minute Books (1549-1835)
- Churchwardens’ accounts (1626-1752)
Use the National Archives website to search the catalogues for these collections:
Nottinghamshire Archives' online catalogue, 'Nottinghamshire Archives Worldwide', has been made available. The catalogues of a growing number of archival holdings can be searched here:
Nottingham University, Manuscripts and Special Collections
The Newcastle Collection at Nottingham University contains a considerable amount of material on the town. Around 1600 entries in the catalogue relate to Newark, including rentals, court rolls, accounts, surveys, terriers, leases and deeds, correspondence, and maps.
See also:
- Middleton Collection
- East Stoke Collection
- Manners Sutton Collection
- Papers relating to elections in Newark, 1792-1832 [GB 159 MS 71]
The online catalogue provides more information on the contents of these collections: