Stonemasons ‘…and Railings’ (and hard hats)
By Barry Richardson
Metalwork plays an important part in this week's blog, for its help in beautifying St. Mary’s, and the damage caused to stonework.
The Historic England listing for St Mary’s Church, is officially designated “and railings.”
At first I assumed this was a complex legal term, but it simply means the listing protects both the building and its surrounding railings. Railings often play a vital role in a site’s character and heritage, and their preservation matters just as much as that of the main structure (think 10 Downing Street).
In essence, railings are not mere afterthoughts; they form an integral part of the overall design and historical narrative although St Mary's railings are clearly not from the Medieval period.
St Mary’s Railings
The railings at St Mary’s are most likely cast iron Victorian additions, installed during 19th-century restoration when Newark invested in civic beautification. They run along the southern and part of the Northern boundaries of the churchyard, facing the market place and Kirkgate, though the northern side is now largely absent. Cast iron allowed for intricate, repeatable decorative patterns that still frames the churchyard with both elegance and authority nearly two centuries later.
Historical Context and Wartime Myths
Originally, these railings delineated and protected the sacred churchyard from the bustling market, marking a dignified boundary, and controlling access to monuments within.
A common belief holds that iron railings across Britain were dismantled during the First World War to be melted down for munitions, leaving only stumps behind.
However, postcard evidence from 1916 shows St Mary’s with a complete set of railings, and Newark’s first scrap-iron drives are documented as occurring in World War II.
The true fate of the missing sections remains a mystery —any local records or eyewitness accounts would be invaluable to help piece St Mary’s story together.
Ironwork Repairs and Structural Challenges
Ironwork also has a link to damage in the structure of the building.
During a recent hard-hat tour, the site manager highlighted earlier repairs where iron spikes had been used to pin stone blocks together. Over time, water ingress caused these spikes to corrode, “blowing” the very stones they were meant to stabilise.
Coal-smoke staining from the 17th to 20th centuries and general weathering accelerated decay, underscoring the need for careful removal of failing stone and sympathetic replacement.
Stone Restoration: The Re-Awakening Project
To restore St Mary’s architectural clarity, masons have carved and installed an estimated 50–60 tons of new local sandstone identical to the original material. Up close the stone is very tactile, and extremely elegant to the eye.
From ground level to the crenellated parapet, the fresh honey-coloured stone vividly contrasts with the weathered fabric, offering a glimpse of how the church once gleamed in sunlight.
Curious to imagine that past more vividly, I used AI to re-imagine this original glow. The result makes it easy to imagine how the church would have sparkled when stonework was new.
Looking Forward
A beautiful, simple yet elegant carved date stone will be installed on the south-west skyline, a contemporary marker created in the spirit of centuries of stonemasonry.
Over time, the renewed stones will weather to a gentle patina, blending harmoniously with neighbouring stonework to ensure St Mary’s continues to watch over Newark’s historic heart - ably guarded on the ground by the railings.
Post Script
The Re-Awakening of St Marys will embrace modernised facilities in the Magnus Meeting Room and Cafe, the extended Crossing, and of course, the water-tight building and new heating and electrical systems.
In the next blog I will discuss some lesser known aspects of the use of St Marys through the ages - stories which reveal the continual relationship between this magnificent mediaeval church and the people it continues to serve.