Ossington Coffee Tavern, Newark on Trent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ossington Coffee Tavern |
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Ossington Coffee Tavern, Newark on Trent
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| Alternative names | Ossington Coffee Palace |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Revival style |
| Town or city | Newark on Trent |
| Groundbreaking | 10 November 1881 |
| Opened | 23 November 1882 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Ernest George and Harold Peto |
| Designations | Grade II* listed |
The Ossington Coffee Tavern is a very old and important building in Newark on Trent, England. It is known as a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a special historic place protected by law. It was built to be a friendly spot where people could gather and enjoy themselves without alcohol.
Building a Special Place
The idea for the Ossington Coffee Tavern came from a kind lady named Charlotte, Viscountess Ossington. She was the widow of the first Viscount Ossington, who used to be the Speaker of the House of Commons (a very important job in the British government). Lady Ossington had lived near Newark for over 50 years and wanted to help the town. She especially wanted to encourage people to avoid alcohol.
The first stone of the building was laid on November 10, 1881. During this ceremony, one of the architects, Harold Peto, placed a special bottle inside a stone. This bottle held coins from that time and a message. The message explained that Lady Ossington paid for the building and also gave money to help it run. She bought the land for about £4,549 and spent around £12,000 on building the tavern. This was a huge amount of money back then!
The building was designed by famous architects Ernest George and Harold Peto. The construction work was done by Messrs. Smith and Lunn, local builders from Newark-on-Trent.
What Was Inside?
The Ossington Coffee Tavern officially opened on November 23, 1882. Lady Ossington named it after her late husband. The total cost of building and setting up the tavern was about £13,500. Lady Ossington also gave an extra £20,000 to help keep it running. In total, she contributed over £38,000, which was an incredible gift to the town.
The tavern was designed to be a welcoming place for everyone.
- On the ground floor, there was a large coffee room and a special room just for boys. There was also a kitchen and offices.
- The first floor had big rooms for events like market dinners and other large gatherings. There was also a quiet reading room, a library, and a club room for groups like Masonic societies.
- Up on the second floor, you could find a billiard room for games and dormitories (rooms to sleep in) for travelers.
Outside, the tavern had lots of features too:
- There was a garden along the river, planted with lime trees. It was meant to be a relaxing outdoor space, like a German "Bier Garten," where people could enjoy music in the summer.
- The garden also had a large oak summer-house and a tall flagstaff.
- Another garden, facing Gastle-gate, was planted with acacia trees and surrounded by iron railings.
- For farmers visiting on market days, there were stables for up to 48 horses and a carriage-house.
- The kitchen was very modern for its time, with the latest equipment.
A Changing Purpose
Even though Lady Ossington had a wonderful vision, the coffee tavern didn't do very well as a business. People didn't use it as much as expected for its original purpose of being a place without alcohol. So, in 1889, it changed and became a private hotel instead.
During World War II, in 1942, the building was taken over by the Air Ministry. It was used to provide accommodation for airmen from RAF Winthorpe, a nearby Royal Air Force base.
More recently, in 2014, the building was sold again. It was turned into a Zizzi pizza restaurant, with other parts of the building becoming homes and shops. However, this Zizzi restaurant closed its doors in 2021.
The Ossington Coffee Tavern remains a significant part of Newark's history, showing how buildings can change their use over time while still being important landmarks.
