39-41 Carter Gate

Summary

A two-storey, five-bay building dating from the mid-C19 that would likely have once existed as two houses, now serving as two retail units following late C20 ground-floor alterations.

History

Newark appears as Newerche in the 1086 Domesday Book. It’s original name Niweweorche (meaning 'New work') is likely associated with the meaning "New fort". The site of Newark Castle was founded by Robert Bloet, Bishop of Lincoln in 1073 and rebuilt in stone from 1123-1133. A bridge over the Trent was built under charter from Henry I at a similar time. In the C15 and C16, Newark became a prosperous market town centred on the wool and cloth trade and characterised by a dense street pattern surrounding the market square. It was incorporated by the Crown in 1549. Significant development occurred during the C18 in response to growing trade along the Great North Road: with a number of handsome terraced Georgian buildings evident from this time. In 1775 a new bridge over the River Trent was constructed, it was further improved in 1848 and forms the current ‘Trent Bridge’. The Market Place was rebuilt in the C18 with coaching inns; the houses of leading citizens and the splendid new Town Hall (1773) by John Carr. By 1801 Newark had a population of 6,730 and was Nottinghamshire’s second town.

‘Gate’ is a Saxon word for street or way and this reflects Carter Gate’s early medieval origins as part of the Saxon burgh. As part of the medieval core of the city, the relatively narrow street is densely developed. A distinctive characteristic of the medieval street was buildings arranged around courtyards accessed via gates onto Carter Gate. Some survive with others surviving simply as passages in later buildings now leading to built up areas behind the primary buildings fronting the street.

The building at 39-41 Carter Gate was likely originally built as a single house in the mid-C19. The most significant alterations to the building were made in the C20, principally the conversion of one side of the ground floor portico into a modest shop unit.

Details

A two-storey, five-bay building dating from the mid-C19 that would likely have once existed as two houses, now serving as two retail units following late C20 ground-floor alterations.

MATERIALS: both ground foor units are encased with timber shopfronts and signage. The first floor is of red brick, beneath a pan-tiled roof, while the sides and rear are rendered.

PLAN: the building is of two-storeys with the historic part, fronting Carter Gate, originally double pile. A two-storey C20 extension to the rear comprises the majority of the pool hall leisure space and is accessed through number 41.

EXTERIOR: the ground floor of the front elevation has paired pilasters at either end with gable fluted brackets. with the north-side containing a C19 timber shopfront and central doorway between two piers. The front unit of the south-side has been removed to create a portico. The shop front of 39 Carter Gate has two bays of two header panes over a large single pane which altogether sit over stallrisers. It is accessed through central, timber double doors that sit in the centre of the building. These also access the first floor which occupies three bays of windows. The shop unit to 41 Carter Gate is recessed through a portico, and has wooden window frames but a modern aluminium set of doors. The unit has access to the first floor which occupies the two southern bays of the building.The first floor is composed of a five window-range of six-over-six sash windows with painted frames, mullions and cills. The eaves are cogged and dentillated. At the rear is a C20 extension of painted brickwork and a flat roof.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

384936

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Other
Buck, Samuel. Map of the siege of Newark (1845-46)
Stevens, Henry, Newark-on-Trent (1820), accessed 19 November 2021
OS First Series, Sheet 70 (Published 1856), accessed 19 November 2021
OS 25” Nottinghamshire XXXV.3 (revised 1899, published 1900), accessed 19 November 2021
OS 25” Nottinghamshire XXXV.3 (revised 1884, published 1886), accessed 19 November 2021
Pevsner, N, Harris J, Antram, N, The Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (1989), p.366

End of official list entry

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