Newark Buttermarket

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Inspire at the Buttermarket - a fresh way to learn!

Visit our thriving learning centre at The Buttermarket, Newark, offering a whole range of inspiring courses, workshops, events and more!

This beautifully renovated learning and events space on the first floor of the historical Buttermarket is a lively hub for learning, creativity and exploration. Since its doors opened in October 2022, hundreds of new learners have enjoyed courses in a range of topics, including creative writing, arts and crafts, maths, English, ESOL, health, music, IT and much more. We have also welcomed hundreds of visitors of all ages and abilities to our seasonal FREE events, linking in with the cultural life of Newark Town Centre. 

Working with Newark Library and new learning spaces at the YMCA activity village, Newark is a trailblazer for inspiring cultural and learning activities across the county. Our centre offers state of the art facilities, brilliant tutors and comfortable learning spaces with contemporary design and good access for all.

We would love to keep you informed about courses and events at the centre so, if you’d like to hear more, go to inspireculture.org.uk/emails and choose the Newark option to receive email updates.

We look forward to welcoming you in! If you want to have an informal look around, just visit us anytime from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. and one of our friendly team will show you around. We also welcome booking enquires from local businesses and community groups and offer great room hire rates!

You can see our official opening press release here.

Want to find out more about our Newark offer? Check out everything happening in the area here.

 

We offer a range of courses for young people and adults including Employability, ESOL, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Crafts, Creative writing and Literature, Education, English and ESOL, Health and Wellbeing, Languages, Maths, Music and Work skills and Employment. 

Visit our What's on page above. 

Find out more about Inspire College at The Buttermarket

The foundation stone near the Middlegate entrance tells us that the building was begun in October 1883, but the story behind its construction goes back much further than that. In 1798 -almost 100 years before the market was built, the site behind the Town Hall was allocated for use as Newark’s meat market or butchers’ shambles. New buildings for the purpose were erected on the site and opened in 1799.

Adjacent to the shambles and also fronting Middlegate was the town’s theatre which had been established in 1774. The theatre and shambles continued side-by-side until 1882 when the Urban Sanitary Authority began investigating alternatives sites for the butchers’ market.

 As things stood, the displays of raw meat were resulting in an unpleasant atmosphere in the Town Hall above on hot days, and the shambles buildings themselves were in a state of disrepair. The sanitary authority’s suggestion was that the area should be covered over and remain a market, but now limited to groceries and poultry. By August 1882 a competition to design the new covered market had been held and won by Mr C. Bell FRIBA, of London.

 Tenders for construction were invited and accepted from local firms such as C. Baines for general building work, and Abbott & Co. (boiler makers) for the ironwork and roof. On 29th October 1883 the Mayor officially laid the foundation stone for the new building, and following the demolition of the old shambles and adjoining theatre work on the new market was completed a year later.

The opening ceremony took place on 13th October 1884

Among the ideas originally presented by the architect Mr Bell was that the upper storey or gallery could be used as a public lecture hall - so it is really exciting that this vision will come true when Inspire moves in to deliver learning and cultural activities and courses. 

If you would like to get involved in spreading the word about what is happening at the Buttermarket, why not become an Ambassador for the Newark offer.  Visit inspireculture.volunteermakers.org and register your interest.

We would love to keep you informed about developments, new courses and activities at the centre so, if you’d like to hear more, go to inspireculture/emails and choose the Newark option to receive email updates.

The Buttermarket has rooms available to hire. 

To make a booking visit our Booking System which has live availability for this venue. Your booking enquiry will be sent to our Ask Inspire team for confirmation. 

Find out more about Room Hire and all our available venues on our Room Hire pages.

Important notices

Library Catalogue Planned Maintenance - Wednesday 15 January

The library catalogue will be unavailable from 8pm on Wednesday 15 January until the morning of Thursday 16 January due to planned essential maintenance by the service provider. 

Thank you in advance for your patience.

Library Closures due to staff training - January 2025

The following libraries will be closed on the following dates, in order to enable staff to attend training.

Any books due back on these dates at the below libraries will be automatically renewed for an extra week.

Friday 24 January:

Carlton-in-Lindrick
Carlton Hill
Edgewood
Edwinstowe
Warsop
Woodthorpe (afternoon 2-5 only)

Friday 31 January:

Bilsthorpe
Dukeries
Carlton Hill
Ollerton

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the closures.

Watch: A Likely Story on Electric Egg's website.

The full video of A Likely Story Town Hall Event is now LIVE on Electric Egg's website.

View this heart-warming show for a limited time only, here.

Learn more about the Newark Creates Partnership

Christmas Closure 2024-2025:

All Nottinghamshire libraries and archives will close for the Christmas period on Monday 23 December 2024, and reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025. With the exception of Dukeries Library, which will be closing on Friday 20th December 2024 at 1:30pm and re-open Monday 6th January 2025 8:30am.

Ask Inspire will close at 6pm on Monday 23 December and reopen at 9am on Thursday 2 January. 

Education Library Service will close at 5pm on Monday 23 December and reopen at 8:30am on Thursday 2 January.

We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year.  

Library service and catalogue updates

Our libraries have recently migrated to a new system for managing stock and customer data, including a new online catalogue. Find out more and check for updates as we settle into this new way of working.

Newark Buttermarket - Lift Out of Order

The lift in the Newark Buttermarket that takes you up to the first floor with the Inspire Buttermarket Centre, is currently out of service. Newark and Sherwood District Council are aware and working hard to resolve this situation.  

Learners can still access the site via the stairs if they are able and we are here to help with heavy bags and course equipment as needed. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. If you are no longer able to attend your course due to this issue, you can speak to our Ask Inspire team on 01623 677 200.