Newark Museum

The Newark Museum can be found inside the National Civil War Centre and spans a few rooms with displays of items that are in some way connected to the town. The most stunning piece there must be the Newark torc, found by metal detector Maurice Richardson in 2005 near the River Trent. Made from rolled gold wires twisted into eight ropes they would have been traded or given as gifts between tribes around 200-50BC.

Other highlights include:

the remains of a woman buried in an expensive lead coffin dating from 1st-4th century AD. The woman herself was between 17 and 23 years old when she died.

This printing press was used by the printers Samuel and John Ridge at their premises in the Market Place to publish Lord Byron’s first collection of poetry – Fugitive Pieces in 1806 and Hours of Idleness in 1807.

And this curious looking item which I’d never seen before is an eel spear, used to catch eels lying in the mud when the tide was out.

It’s an interesting little museum and worth visiting in conjunction with the National Civil War Centre. You can find some more photos here.