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The annual service at Newark Parish Church, on the Sunday nearest to 11th March, to commemoriate the life of Herculs Clay, will be held on Sunday 7th March 2010. Before the Service, guests will gather in the Ballroom at the Town Hall and be welcomed by the Civic Party. A procession will then be formed, which will make its way to the Parish Church. The Mayor will lay a single rose on the Hercules Clay plaque in the church. A Bible, representing that of Hercules Clay is brought to the altar by a surviving relative of Hercules Clay. The original bible forms part of a display in the Town's Musuem, in the Town Hall. At the end of the Service, representing Hercules Clay's bequest of £100 to the poor of Newark, the Mayor will give small loaves of bread to the Church Choir. After the Service there is a reception in the Town Hall. For information - the items in the picture on the Home Page are on permanent display for anyone to see in the Town Hall Museum from 11am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday. We also have an event for primary schools on Hercules Clay, entitled 'History on your Doorstep'. For more information please call 01636 680333.
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HERCULES CLAY - SUNDAY 7TH MARCH 2010
Hercules Clay was Mayor of Newark in 1644, during the Civil War.
During the second siege of Newark, when the town was being bombarded by Parliamentary cannon, he dreamed that his house would be destroyed. He saw it as a premonition and moved his family to safety. Shortly afterwards the house was destroyed by a mortar shell.
In gratitude for his escape, he left two substantial gifts to the town in his will.