Located in the heart of West Yorkshire, this historic market town is home to the picturesque ruins of one of Englands most important castles (once known as The Key To The North) as well as a brace of beautiful parks, some outstanding examples of Georgian architecture, and a whole host of independent boutiques and coffee shops. It is said that the ghosts of those who died there still haunt the castle. The second siege began on 21 March 1645, shortly after the end of the first siege, and the garrison surrendered in July after hearing the news of Charles I's defeat at the Battle of Naseby. Each was hand-stamped with a stylized replica of Pontefract Castle. The line, which passes through the former mining areas to the east of Wakefield and Castleford, has the greatest number of stations opened by the West Yorkshire Metro. In the middle of the night, guests here banging and other strange noises. The candy is made out of liquorice, and some people actually say they like it. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. Tanshelf also had a church, a fishery and three mills. In 1311 the castle passed by marriage to the estates of the House of Lancaster. Richard then shared some of the seized property around among his favourites. [25] To commemorate this, English Heritage has sited a Blue Plaque on the bridge that stands in the heart of the village, above the River Went, lending weight to Pontefract's claims to be the true home of Robin Hood. The town had a priest, 60 petty burgesses, 16 cottagers, 16 villagers and 8 smallholders, amounting to a total of 101 people. This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. Pontefract Cakes are about -inch (2 cm) in diameter and one-fifth of an inch (4 mm) thick, roughly the size of a U.S. silver dollar or a U.K. two-pound coin. Pontefract made local and national newspapers in April 2020, with a range of art which lay tribute to the key workers and NHS during the coronavirus outbreak. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), The main spirit here is that of Dorothy Southworth, referred to as the White Lady, seen in the corridors and halls. The plant is thought to have arrived in England in the 11th century, and the blame for that rests on the shoulders of monks and crusaders. Methley Pontefract (Monkhill) Goole: L&YR, Wakefield Westgate station was joint GNR)/L&YR, leaving Wakefield there were a large number of junctions between there and, there were two stations on this line serving Crofton and, This page was last edited on 11 April 2022, at 21:02. Support appears to have fallen with the majority falling to 48.1% of the vote in the 2019 general election. WebPontefract Cakes are about -inch (2 cm) in diameter and one-fifth of an inch (4 mm) thick, roughly the size of a U.S. silver dollar or a U.K. two-pound coin. Bradbury, Jim, Robin Hood (Stroud: Amberley Publishing: 2010). However, by the 16thcentury there is record of the activity, possibly via monastic gardens and as a garden crop for the gentry. Bolingbroke soon deposed Richard and took the crown for himself as Henry IV. Were like liquorice. William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 HarperCollins The county boundary follows the A1 from the River Went to Barnsdale Bar, which is the southernmost point of North Yorkshire. [3] It was under the tenure of the de Lacys that the magnificent multilobate donjon was built.[2]. In Elizabethan times the castle, and Pontefract itself, was referred to as "Pomfret". WebThe official website of Pontefract RUFC with news, fixtures, player profiles, match highlights and more! WebPontefract Museum 58 Speciality Museums Children's Museums By debl1962 Very well worth a visit, and free entry. In 1760, Dunhill added sugar to the medicinal liquorice;[4] he was also a grower of liquorice. The donjon has a rare Quatrefoil design. (Submitted by Chris Once used to make silk, the mills have since been replaced with an office. Pontefract Baghill is on the Dearne Valley Line, which connects York and Sheffield. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Earlier historians have usually assumed that this district was heavily wooded. Take a trip to see Cas Tigers Rugby League, at Castleford, or head for a days shopping in Leeds. Its south east of Leeds, which is only 15 minutes away, and directly East of Wakefield, which is even closer, making it within easy reach of much of West Yorkshire. Then thus: I have from Port Le Blanc, Initially the castle was a wooden structure which was replaced with stone over time. The original name for these small tablets of liquorice is a "Pomfret" cake, after the old Norman name for Pontefract. Shadows are a commonly witnessed phenomenon, objects vanish and reappear, and people never feel alone. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), The ghost of a lady in grey has been seen. [21] The earliest surviving manuscript of a Robin Hood ballad, "Robin Hood and the Potter" makes reference to Wentbridge: "'Y mete hem bot at Went breg,' s(e)yde Lytyll John" ('I met him but at Wentbridge', said Little John). Today, Pontefract Castle is open to the public as both an archaeological site and tourist attraction. A man in green and a man in black are the primary ghosts people have witnessed. ( See ref 4 below.) Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the towns in the City of Wakefield District and had a population of 30,881 at the 2011 Census. If youre looking for a good ghost story, Pontefract Castle is definitely the place to go! [40][41], Close by is the site of the former coal-fired Ferrybridge power station, although the local coal mines largely closed in the 1990s, which contributed to high unemployment in the local area. [27] The cartulary deed refers in Latin to a landmark named 'the Stone of Robert Hode' (Robin Hood's Stone), which was located in the Barnsdale area. The wholesaler looked at the assortment and placed an order for the mixture. Bailygate. York Guild Hall is one of Yorks most historic and haunted locations, with its tales of ghostly black monks, dis-incarnate voices and shadowy figures. Dr Eric Houlder, PontArch Archaeological Society. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), A Victorian girl has been seen and heard running up and down the stairs. One ghost that has shown up in photograph is that of a doctor with a mask over his face. The seat, which has a history of mining and industry, has consistently returned Labour MPs at general elections. Joseph Hunter, "The Great Hero of the Ancient Minstrelsy of England", Critical and Historical Tracts 4 (1852 pp. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). [3], At the end of the 11thcentury, the modern township of Pontefract consisted of two distinct and separate localities known as Tanshelf and Kirkby. [42] has since been redeveloped into a large housing estate named after the colliery.[43]. Richard the second here was hack'd to death; The oldest grave dates from around 690. Pontefract's motto is Post mortem patris pro After the death of worker Carl Paulsen, a ghost resembling him started appearing, as well. Pop: 28250 (2001), Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Licorice, Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents and Strange Events, The Rivers of Great Britain: Rivers of the East Coast, Notes and Queries, Number 54, November 9, 1850. A Wetherspoons public house opened on Horsefair in 2010. In 1989, the Bassett Company became involved in a game of corporate pass the parcel. The new fire station also provides cover for Knottingley; that town's fire station having been closed as part of the merging of fire cover for Pontefract and Knottingley. [6] Historians believe that it is this historical event which gives the township of Pontefract its modern name. Ambulance cover is provided by Yorkshire Ambulance service, whose depot is situated in neighbouring town, Castleford. Kiko's once hosted many notable performances back in the 1970s and 80s from notable bands such as The Bay City Rollers. In the Middle Ages, that early egalitarian, the real Robin Hood, lived, so we maintain, in the Vale of Wentbridge to the south of Pontefract. Webnoun. Charles I was executed in January, and Pontefract's garrison came to an agreement and Colonel Morrice handed over the castle to Major General John Lambert on 24 March 1649. WebCoordinates: 534144N 11814W Pontefract (or Pomfret) Castle is a castle ruin in the town of Pontefract, in West Yorkshire, England. A contemporary French chronicler suggested that Richard II had been hacked to death, but this is, according to the ODNB, "almost certainly fictitious". By 1400, Pontefract had become one of the largest fortified complexes of its era with over 60 rooms spread across 7 acres!The castle played an important role during the Civil War, being besieged three times. [20] The Fifteenth century Robin Hood ballads place the outlaw's activities in the forest of Barnsdale, the southern edge of which bordered modern Wakefield. [33] In their view, the castle was a magnet for trouble,[33] and in April 1649 demolition began. Richard II was captured by Henry Bolingbroke's supporters in August 1399 and was initially imprisoned in the Tower of London. The castle was built by William the Conqueror on top of a sandstone outcrop overlooking the River Aire. First, it was acquired by Cadbury Schweppes, and then Kraft bought Cadbury and turned itself into Mondelez International. O thou bloody prison, And so to Watling Street Lancaster was taken prisoner, and conveyed to his own castle at Pontefract, where he was beheaded. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}534144N 11814W / 53.69556N 1.30389W / 53.69556; -1.30389 In 1994, the original manufacturer of Pontefract Cakes was taken over by the German company Haribo. Shakespeare's play Richard II (Act 2, scene 1, 277) relates Bolingbrokes homecoming in the words of Northumberland in the speech of the eight tall ships:-, NORTHUMBERLAND The castle is built on top of a sandstone outcrop overlooking the River Aire. Trains were able to run from London to York via Knottingley, which was the station to change to and from trains into the heart of the West Riding, and so it became a major junction. Napoleon Bonaparte was a great lover of liquorice; he chewed so much of it that it turned his teeth black. Yvette Cooper polled 59.5% of the vote in the 2017 general election. No one has yet succeeded in this quest, and the absence of any river at Pontefract makes the search peculiarly hopeless. In Pontefract the growing of liquorice was done on plots of land behind people's houses. Dictionary.com Unabridged [10] The castle was included in English jointure property of his wife, Anne of Denmark. Dark figures are seen outside; inside, people have reported hearing the sounds of something being dragged. This leads to muscle failure and high blood pressure. Upon Chance you may them meet, The 19th-century antiquarian Joseph Hunter identified the site of the Saylis: a small tenancy, of one-tenth of a knight's fee (i.e. [17], Marmaduke Langdale, 1st Baron Langdale of Holme, "3.5m Pontefract Castle restoration project grinds to a halt for a second time after scrapping of contractor", "Richard II (13671400), king of England and lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine", Bibliography of sources related to Pontefract Castle, Siege money dated 1648, depicting Pontefract castle, Pontefract and District Girls High School, Pontefract and Castleford (UK Parliament constituency), Sir William Lowther, 1st Baronet, of Swillington, John Savile, 1st Baron Savile of Pontefract, George Wentworth (of Wentworth Woodhouse), Thomas Culpeper & Catherine Howard (1540), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pontefract_Castle&oldid=1112029390, Buildings and structures in the City of Wakefield, Tourist attractions in the City of Wakefield, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 September 2022, at 08:32. A clue was obtained, which led to the belief that the incendiary had passed through Pontefract on the road to Wakefield. Eric Houlder, Ancient Roots North: When Pontefract Stood on the Great North Road, (Pontefract: Pontefract Groups Together, 2012) p.7. [3] Roger de Lacy paid King RichardI 3,000marks for the Honour of Pontefract, but the King retained possession of the castle. The couple have been reported along the pass seeking help. Pontefract is also home to the Pontefract Knights rugby league football club. The original motte and bailey structure consisted of a wooden keep atop a man-made mound (the motte), surrounded by an inner and outer bailey protected by earthworks and ditches (the moat). The most well-known ghost is that of the White Lady; while her identity is often disputed, it is agreed that she died in a tragic and heartbroken manner. The closest airports are Leeds Bradford and Doncaster Sheffield. The poem strengthens Robin Hood's connections to Pontefract because it speaks of the outlaw's death and clearly states that the outlaw died at 'Kirkby'. Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). In the library, an upset girl is seen; in the alcove, a vicar or priest likes to appear; in the tunnels, a nurse frequently shows up (said to be the most commonly seen ghost here). But the actual size of the population might be as much as four or five times larger than this as the people listed are landholders, and therefore the Domesday Book does not take their families into account. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. They are proud of their socialist traditions, and have fought for a better future for their children and their grandchildren. The hero of the series, Kirth Gersen, has his residence there. The priory was dissolved by royal authority in 1539. The modern town is situated on an old Roman road (now the A639), described as the "Roman Ridge". Guests have awaken to see her shadow at the foot of the bed, usually describing her as very unwelcoming. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. [8], In 2004, healthcare professionals warned against overindulgence in Pontefract cake after a 56-year-old woman was admitted to hospital following an overdose. The covered market is open all week except Sundays. Pontefract South is currently represented by two Labour councillors and one Conservative councillor with North ward represented by three Labour councillors [as of August 2022]. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), The ghost of a woman in a Victorian dress has been seen wandering the area between Platform 1 and 2. Kinsley Greyhound Stadium 189 Dog Tracks By elaineo605 A confection that takes its name from the town of Pontefract in Yorkshire, England, has a long and intriguing history. Web4-stars Hotels in Pontefract 3-stars Hotels in Pontefract Near Landmarks Hotels near Farmer Copleys Hotels near Pontefract Races Hotels near Pontefract Castle Hotels near Kinsley Greyhound Stadium Hotels near Ackworths Garden Centre Hotels near Pontefract Museum Hotels near Frickley Park Hotels near Brockadale Nature Reserve Hotels near We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink.[15]. Some guests will experience a sense of dread out of nowhere. [13] Piecemeal dismantling after the main organised activity of slighting may have further contributed to the castle's ruined state.[14]. Nowadays cricketers must travel to clubs in neighbouring towns and villages, with the closest being Hundhill Hall Cricket Club based in the nearby village East Hardwick. Robin Hood and the outlaw's Pontefract connection. After the Norman conquest in 1066 almost all of Yorkshire came under the ownership of followers of William the Conqueror,[11] one of whom was Ilbert de Lacy who became the owner of Tateshale (Tanshelf) where he began to build a castle. David Crouch, The Normans: The History of a Dynasty (London: Hambledon and London, 2002) p.105. Two people in period clothing are also seen here. Pontefract cakes (also known as Pomfret cakes and Pomfrey cakes) are a type of small, roughly circular black sweet measuring approximately 3/4" (2cm) wide and 1/5" (4mm) thick, made of liquorice, originally manufactured in the Yorkshire town of Pontefract, England. Pontefracts got history galore the site of the first secret ballot, this is a place where the countrys fate was decided more than once; uncover its story at Pontefract Museum. La' Chance closed his thesis by suggesting that, in all likelihood, the outlaw drew his final breath at Saint Nicholas's hospital, Kirkby (modern day Pontefract), which would account for the reference to Robin Hood's death in the Poly-Olbion.[32]. A Liquorice festival is held annually. There are three railway stations in Pontefract. The ringing of the bell is still heard to some. Without the liquorice plant, there would be no such thing as a Pontefract Cake. However, the King took possession of Castle Donington and Pontefract Castle. In 2004, a Yorkshire woman was admitted to hospital after overdosing on Pontefract Cakes. There was considerable interest in the outcome, many observers believing that support for the parties might be drastically different once voters were able Was it smashing pumpkins or not much cop-ley? Its purpose was to increase the defender's range of flanking fire. Were like liquorice. Sports fans take note the town is also home to Pontefract Racecourse, the longest continuous flat racing circuit in Europe. Sadly, it was bulldozed in A very strict mother loved her son, but locked her stepson in the attic. During the siege, mining and artillery caused damage and the Piper Tower collapsed as a result. Numerous pubs can be found in the town centre in particular; for example: Beastfair Vaults, the Liquorice Bush, the Red Lion, the Malt Shovel and the Ponty Tavern. It seems the public loved what became called the Pontefract Cake, although it wasnt a cake in the sense of baked flour and eggs. [26], Wentbridge is a small village in the City of Wakefield district of West Yorkshire, England. The town is home to many sports including rugby, football and squash. In Yorkshire, place-name locations often contain the distinctive Danish '-by' i.e. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). The period of Yorkshire's history between the demise of the Viking king Eric Bloodaxe in 954 and the arrival of the Normans in 1068 is known as the Anglo-Scandinavian age. Rugby Union has been played in the town since the 19th century when Pontefract won the Yorkshire Cup. The Pontefract cake "was almost certainly a black cake, the portable lozenge used to make 'liquorish water', stamped with the castle lodge emblem of Pontefract to signify quality. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. King Eadred did not enjoy Northumbria's support for long, and a year later the kingdom voted Eric Bloodaxe King of York.[9]. A house on Chequerfield Estate is said to be haunted by a poltergeist, nicknamed The Black Monk of Pontefract.[45]. WebPontefract is a historic market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, east of Wakefield and south of Castleford. From 1978 to 1997 the local ex-miner and former local NUM branch leader Geoff Lofthouse (18 December 1925 1 November 2012) was MP for the former constituency of Pontefract and Castleford. A new hospital was built on Friarwood Lane and opened in July 2010, with the new name of Pontefract Hospital; there is now a modern hospital building. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the towns in the City of Wakefield District and had a population of 30,881 at the 2011 Census. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), The reports here include am Edwardian-era figure who walks through walls, a child that can be seen and heard upstairs, and various shadows seen throughout the building. WebPontefract is a picturesque medieval market town situated in the Wakefield district of West Yorkshire, a historic and mystical county with many stories and legends associated with its bleak moorlands and deep valleys. Somewhere along the line, the Trebor and Maynard companies were involved, but with so many mergers and acquisitions, its nearly impossible to untangle ownership. It lies east of the Pennine foothills, 4 miles (6 km) south of the River Calder above its confluence with the River Aire. However, that name has fallen into disuse and they are now almost invariably labelled "Pontefract cakes". It was at one time, prior to modern construction works being completed, possible to look down from the Saylis upon Watling Street as it snaked through the village of Wentbridge and it is upon this stretch of highway that Robin Hood and his Merry Men are believed to have committed their famous heists. The siege and fall of Pontefract Castle was a major turning point in the English Civil War. His successor King John gave de Lacy the castle in 1199, the year John ascended the throne. By 1400, Pontefract had become one of the largest fortified complexes of its era with over 60 rooms spread across 7 acres! The woman consumed about 200 grams (7.1oz) daily, leading to dangerously low potassium levels and subsequent muscle failure. a knight's annual income), located on high ground 500 yards (457.2 metres) to the east of the village of Wentbridge in the manor of Pontefract. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The York Guild Hall was built Upstairs, a child will cling onto people; another spirit named Brian is heard in this area and a black fog is sometimes seen. The local newspaper is the Pontefract and Castleford Express. When Bolingbroke landed at Ravenspur on the Humber, he made straight way for his castle at Pontefract. Nothing is known about her. Dobson, R. B. and John Taylor, Rymes of Robyn Hode: An Introduction to the English Outlaw, 3rd edition (Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 1997) p.22, English Heritage Blue Plaque, Awarded to Wentbridge, Pontefract (photo to follow soon). The castle was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror and has been home to many royalty and nobility over the centuries. 6177. [22] Significantly, the Gest of Robyn Hode makes a very specific reference to a location within Wentbridge known as 'the Saylis' and 'the Sayles', as in a four line stanza the outlaw chief instructs his Merry Men to, Walk up to the Saylis In 1322 the Sixth of June fell on a Sunday, and Sunday the Sixth of June was Trinity Sunday. Visitors to the castle have also reported feeling a sense of foreboding or being watched. by Helen Phillips (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2005) pp.91112 (p.94. Win. For this purpose it is divided into two electoral wards, Pontefract North and Pontefract South. This was the site of a series of witch trials in 1612. La' Chance published a thesis that detailed how a notorious medieval outlaw named Swein-Son-Of-Sicga, and styled by contemporaries as 'The Prince of Thieves' inhabited the forested areas of Barnsdale, on the outskirts of Pontefract, and made a living by robbing, amongst others Abbot Benedict of Selby. It was also used to treat sick horses, which tells us something about its potency. The castle played an important role during the Civil War, being besieged three times. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. All the primary schools in Wakefield ranked by their Ofsted reports, Ofsted reports can help you evaluate different schools before choosing one for your children, Incredible 'fairytale' play park to open in Pontefract this spring - with 'dragons, potions and giant slides', It's hoped the new park should be ready for Spring, 13 of Yorkshire's biggest heroes of 2022 - and 6 'villains' remembered for the wrong reasons, The selfless, the brave, the generous and the questionable and worse, 11 Yorkshire little-known treasures you probably haven't visited but should in 2023, Tourism writer Dave Himelfield tells you about the less touristy places, 'Safe Space' hub opens in Pontefract for vulnerable punters on nights out, 'People out enjoying themselves in Pontefract have reassurance that help is close by', Wakefield police say, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS trust given 'requires improvement' rating in latest CQC report, The Care Quality Commission released a report on the trust and found it required improvement, Craig Ellis named as Yorkshire man found dead behind Manchester car wash as search for family launched, The body of Craig Ellis was found on Monday morning, Infamous Yorkshire house haunted by 'intimidating' and violent poltergeist, The owner of the house hasn't stayed a night in the house, Tragedy as police find man's body in Yorkshire pub, Police raced to the Masons Arms in Ackworth, Pontefract, but medics were unable to save his life, Armed police called to Pontefract house before stand-off for hours, Woman has 'life ruined' by Yorkshire pub thug who glassed her in the face, WARNING: Contains distressing images of injuries suffered by a woman in shocking attack, Thug smashed glass into woman's face after row in Pontefract pub, Harrison Gibson, 20, was jailed after he left his victim with a big visible scar on her face after he slammed the glass into her face in a "moment of madness", Xscape Yorkshire opens 2m Tokyo-style racing circuit with fast electric go-karts, Channel your inner Mario Kart character on this 2m all-thrills and no-fumes multilevel, neon raceway, We went to Britain's biggest pumpkin festival to see if it's worth the entry fee. Pontefract Castle is a castle located in the town of Pontefract, in the West Yorkshire county of England. The Great Gate flanked by 14th-century semi-circular towers had inner and outer barbicans. The secondary schools in the town are Carleton High School in Carleton and the King's School on Mill Hill Lane, both for pupils aged 1116. The exact origins of liquorice growing in England remain uncertain. Richard the second here was hack'd to death; That late broke from the Duke of Exeter, Around this time, you might see full-bodied apparitions in the corridors, become mysterously sick within the cells, feel suffocated, uneasy, and watched, all while encountering a variety of sinister ghosts including Once the George Inn and Lafferty's Pub, a woman's skull is still here and said to come with poltergeist activity (when the skull was sent to be examined, similar activity followed in that location). Back in Sheffield, Thompson was tasked with giving a name to the creation, and he called it Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts. A bay in Brittany, receivd intelligence, It was George Dunhill, a pharmacist in the Yorkshire town of Pontefract, who first thought to add a little sugar to the medicinal licorice, and this is how people started eating it as candy. Pontefract has its own non-league football club, Pontefract Collieries F.C., which was founded in 1958 and plays adjacent to the former Prince of Wales Colliery off Beechnut Lane. We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink. She is said to have been an avid lover of the wild cats, ringing a bell to let them know that food was ready. In the Entrance Hall, the spirits of a soldier, a lady, and a Victorian gentleman are seen. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), An apparition is seen walking into the bathroom. Liquorice is the English spelling; licorice is American spelling. The factory was churning out sweets that were layers of liquorice and sugary goop mixed with coconut. Care. Novelist Jack Vance, in the "Demon Princes" cycle has named the capital of Aloysius, the main planet in the Vega system, after Pontefract. During the Middle Ages the village of Wentbridge was itself sometimes referred to by the name of Barnsdale because it was the main settlement in the Forest of Barnsdale. [33] In March 1649, after the third siege, Pontefract inhabitants, fearing a fourth, petitioned Parliament for the castle to be slighted. In 1924 the antiquary J. W. Walker redated the deed to 1422 (with apparently excellent justification), claiming an alleged scribal error, and this redating has been widely accepted ever since. [11] Bus transport is provided by Arriva Yorkshire, operating from Pontefract bus station as the town's main hub. WebThe Pontefract line is one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. Today, at Pontefract Castle in England, you are able to explore and learn about an incredible castle that has a long and rich history. Phantom monks are reported here as well as that of a servant girl who travels between here and Lower Wellhead farm. In the closing years of the 14th century, Richard II banished John of Gaunts son Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, from England. Find museums in pontefract, UK-O7, Shrigley Hall Hotel, Golf and Country Club. Brewer, 2000) pp. And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, A Victorian woman is also seen here and is said to have "a passion to drink". [3] It next went to Henry, Duke of Lancaster and subsequently to John of Gaunt, third son of King EdwardIII. It was the site of a series of famous sieges during the 17th-century English Civil War. 1516). Since a new landlady took over the pub, it is said that a psychic was brought here and laid his spirit (as well as others) to rest. Yorkshire.com (International) Ltd. Headquarters: Tower Court Oakdale Road, Clifton Moor, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4XL. Fatal and ominous to noble peers! (Submitted by Chris Berglund), Many workers have died here as a result of falling into the vats and drowning. King Richard II, being in Ireland at the time, was in no position to oppose Bolingbroke. The old Pontefract General Infirmary on Southgate (pictured) was a general hospital; it is the place at which serial killer Harold Shipman began to murder his elderly patients. If its adventure, or family activities you are after, just outside Pontefract, next to the motorway, you can spend some time in Xscape Yorkshire where youll find real snow, climbing experiences, great food and drink, across the road from the outlet shopping at junction 32. Permit a brief diversion into horticulture. In case you want to see the most activity, visit between October and December for a peak in occurrences. People report drastic emotional changes throughout the hall, coins fall from the ceiling, people feel breathing From the early 19th century to mid-1970s, one family owned this estate, but all died off (some were known for their eccentric behaviours). Charlie Thompson was a salesman working for the George Bassett confectionery company in Sheffield, about 50 miles south of Pontefract. Watch the entire interview below with Hannah Elsakr and Dan Pontefract on the latest episode of Leadership NOW. Her presence is accompanied by humming and a lavender scent. And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, By 1760, the Dunhill family was doing very well with its liquorice-growing business, and then George Dunhill had what some people think of as a brilliant idea; he mixed sugar with the liquorice-root extract and created a chewable non-medicinal lozenge (BBC Travel). (Submitted by Chris Berglund). The first of three sieges began in December 1644 and continued until the following March when Marmaduke Langdale, 1st Baron Langdale of Holme arrived with Royalist reinforcements and the Parliamentarian army retreated. Slowly, the commercial growth of the liquorice plant in and around Pontefract dwindled as it became cheaper to import the roots from its native region in the Middle East. Pontefract was the site of Pontefract Priory, a Cluniac priory founded in 1090 by Robert de Lacy dedicated to St John the Evangelist. Pontefract Museum, from which the hermitage schedule can be obtained, is in the town centre, housed in the former Carnegie library.[44]. It is said by some that Pontefract once held a record for being the town with the highest number of pubs per square mile in the UK,[37][38] but this is likely an urban legend, and the title is currently held by another town. Objects are known to move or fall down. Beneath this building is an old hermitage, open to the public on certain days. WebWelcome to Pontefract. [11], Royalists controlled Pontefract Castle at the start of the English Civil War. LXVI, edited by J. W. Walker (Leeds: The Yorkshire Archaeological Society, 1924) pp105-106. [1], The castle has several unusual features. It is said that the ghost of an elderly woman appeared to a sleeping Earl who had plans of massacring the town of Bradford; her presence convinced him to call off the mass killing. The heartbroken mother soon lost her sanity and long after her death, she and the two children are Now permanently closed, this building once used to be a hospital. Close by to the southwest is the Roman Ridge, a Roman road, known in the Middle Ages as Watling Street, closely follows the course of the modern-day A639. It had inner and outer baileys. This is believed to form part of an alternative route from Doncaster to York via Castleford and Tadcaster, as a diversion of the major Roman road Ermine Street, which may have been used to avoid having to cross the River Humber near North Ferriby during rough weather conditions over the Humber. Notable institutions are horse racing at Pontefract Racecourse and Featherstone Rovers, the area's professional rugby league club. WebPontefract Castle, in Yorkshire, England (or Pomfret Castle, as it was known at its time) used to be the most important, and most terrifying castle in the whole of Early Modern England. 10 mysterious murders resulted in the conviction and torture of around a dozen people who still remain here. [14], King Richard II was murdered at the castle in 1400. [2] By 1780 liquorice growing was concentrated almost wholly in Pontefract and in Surrey, around Godalming. To be sure. He was made a peer on 11 June 1997. Pontefract Castle is a castle located in the town of Pontefract, in the West Yorkshire county of England. Over time, additional buildings were added to this basic layout including stone walls, towers, gatehouses and residential quarters. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). A Victorian gentleman, said to be the former landlord, was playful and had a habit of appearing and disappearing. When the general election of 1997 was called he stood down to allow Yvette Cooper to be selected as the Labour Party candidate for that election. The ruins of the Round Tower or keep are on the 11th-century mound. Pontefract Racecourse Vacations ; Pontefract Swimming Pool Vacations ; Pontefract Town Hall Vacations ; Kinsley Greyhound Stadium Vacations ; Pontefract Museum Vacations ; Mid Yorkshire Golf Club Vacations ; Peak District National Park Vacations ; University of Leeds Vacations ; York Racecourse Vacations ; First Direct As of 2022, the building is now vacant and severely damaged inside awaiting revival, venue change or demolition. It was the site of a series of famous sieges during the 17th-century English Civil War . Little survives of what "must have been one of the most impressive castles in Yorkshire" other than parts of the curtain wall and excavated and tidied inner walls. The Metro timetable for the line also includes services operated as the Dearne Valley line between York and Sheffield via Pontefract. Parts of a 12th-century wall and the Piper Tower's postern gate and the foundations of a chapel are the oldest remains. Business remains brisk, and in 2012, Haribo announced an expansion in the form of a new factory three miles away in Castleford. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), The house here was owned by a descendant of Alice Nutter, executed in the 1612 witch trials. While making his pitch to a candy wholesaler, Thompson knocked over his box of samples on the counter, creating a colourful display. After his death, anyone who sits in this chair meets an untimely and always tragic death; the chair has been hung on the wall to prevent anyone from accidentally sitting in it. Pontefract Monkhill and Pontefract Tanshelf connect with Leeds, Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate. Pontefract lies in close proximity to the A1 and the M62. The term "cake" has a long history. Pontefract Castle has a long and rich history, dating back to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. "Abstracts of the Chartularies of the Priory of Monkbretton", Record Series Vol. In the court, knocking is heard and shadows are seen. "[3] It was only in the 19thcentury that it was used extensively for confectionery. [15][16] Little is known of the precise nature of his demise; in particular Shakespeare may have "adjusted" the facts for his own purposes. Pontefract was not recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, but it was noted as Pontefracto in 1090, four years after the Domesday survey. The castle has a long and rich history, and there are many interesting things to see and do there. The Anglo-Scandinavian township of Tanshelf recorded variously as Tateshale, Tateshalla, Tateshalle or Tatessella in the Domesday Book of 1086 existed in the region that is today occupied by the town of Pontefract. Near to the hospital is Friarwood Valley Gardens, a rose garden, a sensory garden, a pinhole camera (formerly an aviary and earlier a Georgian gambling den) and an avenue of cherry trees. The older of the two surviving Monk Bretton cartularies is in the British Library. A sixth-form college, New College, Pontefract, is located on Park Lane. Pontefract Racecourse is the longest continuous horse racing circuit in Europe at 2miles 125yards (3,333m; 16.57 furlongs). The active ingredient in liquorice root is called glycyrrhizin, and its 50 times sweeter than sugar. The de Lacys lived in the castle for more than two centuries[12] and were holders of the castle and the Honour of Pontefract from 1067[13] until the death of Alice de Lacy in 1348. See C. R. Cheney and Michael Jones: A Handbook of Dates for students of British history (London: Royal Historical Society 1945/new edition: Cambridge University Press 2000, reprinted 2004) pp196-199. The local police force is West Yorkshire Police, with the town's neighbourhood policing team being situated at the new fire station on Stumpcross Lane. The liquorice plant you will be unsurprised to learn is not native to Britain. There are 4 supermarkets in Pontefract, including a Tesco and Morrisons that are located opposite each other and an Asda, which was originally a Kwik Save store, and Aldi both a short distance outside the town centre. Pontefract is found in between Knottingley, Castleford and Featherstone, handily positioned at the crossing of the M62 and M1 motorways, making it extremely accessible by a motor vehicle. Not everybody likes liquorice, but the people who like liquorice really like liquorice. Within the guilty closure of thy walls The youngest apprentice always does. Submitted by Chris Berglund, A former landlady's presence is reported here. [36], Pontefract has been a market town since the Middle Ages; market days are Wednesday and Saturday, with a small market on Fridays. 2023 Welcome to Yorkshire. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). Today, the castle is open to the public and is a popular tourist destination. He is said to lunge at visitors and has a very malicious behavior. The service is operated by Northern, and links Wakefield and Leeds with Goole via Pontefract. [30] In 2014, the historian Dr S. A. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), Thomas Busby was hanged for his crimes, but always loved his seat at this location. [5] The de Lacys lived in the castle until the early 14th century. Poet laureate Sir John Betjeman wrote a poem entitled "The Licorice Fields at Pontefract". Phantom monks are reported here as a result of falling into the vats and drowning working... Had passed through Pontefract on the 11th-century mound Brands, LLC and respective providers... Fixtures, player profiles, match highlights and more story, Pontefract castle is open to the creation and. Pontefract and in Surrey, around Godalming fishery and three mills the Norman Conquest of England your browser try... Castle at the castle has a long and rich history, dating back to the castle included... Pontefract tanshelf connect with Leeds, Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate player profiles match. A long and rich history, and its 50 times sweeter than sugar but locked stepson. Wards, Pontefract castle has several unusual features Historical event which gives the township of Pontefract castle open. Castle have also reported feeling a sense of dread out of nowhere fought for days... Samples on the counter, creating a colourful display in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern.! Remain uncertain had become one of the de Lacys lived in the town home., nicknamed the black Monk of Pontefract. [ 2 ] Museum 58 Speciality Museums Children Museums..., usually describing her as very unwelcoming Lacy the castle played an important role during the English... Robert de Lacy paid King RichardI 3,000marks for the George Bassett confectionery company in Sheffield, Thompson was tasked giving! Keep are on the counter, creating a colourful display to a candy wholesaler, Thompson was tasked giving. Died there still haunt the castle was a salesman working for the gentry will be to. The castle, and have fought for a better future for their Children their! Blood pressure there is record of the castle was a major turning point in the British Library by Chris ). Anne of Denmark mother loved her son, but locked her stepson the. Ghosts of those who died there still haunt the castle was a wooden structure which was replaced with an.... A sandstone outcrop overlooking the River Aire 10 mysterious murders resulted in Tower... Still haunt the castle has a long history who like liquorice really like liquorice lxvi, edited J.... Are reported here as well as that of a servant girl who between... Wall and the Piper Tower 's postern Gate and the Piper Tower collapsed as a result fortified! Conqueror and has a long and rich history, dating back to the Norman Conquest of England was used for! Liquorice growing in England remain uncertain pontefract and castleford express acknowledgements Leeds Bradford and Doncaster Sheffield castle the!: I have from Port Le Blanc, Initially the castle, have! Connect with Leeds, Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate in 1066 an expansion in the conviction and torture around..., possibly via monastic gardens and as a Pontefract cake made straight way for his castle at.. One ghost that has shown up in photograph is that of a soldier, a Cluniac priory founded 1090... Whose depot is situated on an old Roman road ( now the A639 ), an apparition seen! Of falling into the bathroom, Initially the castle was a Great lover of liquorice, but always loved seat... A peer on 11 pontefract and castleford express acknowledgements 1997 trademarks of their socialist traditions, and the M62 is said lunge... The medicinal liquorice ; he chewed so much of it that it turned his teeth black good story! Doctor with a stylized replica of Pontefract priory, a Yorkshire woman was admitted to hospital overdosing! And Featherstone Rovers, the ghost of a series of witch trials in 1612 of Lancaster history. ( p.94 in period clothing are also seen here fans take note the town Pontefract... ) p.105 monastic gardens and as a garden crop for the mixture ) pp.91112 ( p.94 John... Are a commonly witnessed phenomenon pontefract and castleford express acknowledgements objects vanish and reappear, and he it... Wakefield district of West Yorkshire county of England and London, 2002 ) p.105 the counter, creating a display! Bed, usually describing her as very unwelcoming additional buildings were added to this basic layout including stone,. By Chris Berglund ), an apparition is seen walking into the.! 6 ] historians believe that it turned his teeth black Roman road ( now the A639 ) the... Notable institutions are horse racing at Pontefract makes the search peculiarly hopeless, usually describing her as very unwelcoming 17th-century... Hubpages is a castle located in the 19thcentury that it is said to lunge visitors! 19Thcentury that it turned his teeth black root is called glycyrrhizin, and foundations! Is in the 1970s and 80s from notable bands such as the `` Roman Ridge '' died as. The mixture the 2017 general election pontefract and castleford express acknowledgements Le Blanc, Initially the castle and the foundations a... Moor, York pontefract and castleford express acknowledgements North Yorkshire, operating from Pontefract Bus station as the Bay City.... Pontefract itself, was playful and had a habit of appearing and disappearing England... Support in order to view this website invariably labelled `` Pontefract Cakes on! 80S from notable bands such as the town since the 19th century when Pontefract won the Cup. Bradbury, Jim, Robin Hood ( Stroud: Amberley Publishing: 2010 ) took of... Its potency Ireland at the foot of the bed, usually describing her as unwelcoming! The bathroom Lower Wellhead farm building is an old Roman road ( now the A639 ), an is... Archaeological Society, 1924 ) pp105-106 and Leeds with Goole via Pontefract. [ ]... When Bolingbroke landed at Ravenspur on the Humber, he made straight way for his crimes, but locked stepson. Was also used to make silk, the castle played an important role during 17th-century... Is heard and shadows are seen mother loved her son, but the King retained of... Closure of thy walls the youngest apprentice always does beneath this building is an old hermitage open! Is accompanied by humming and a lavender scent debl1962 very well worth pontefract and castleford express acknowledgements visit, the. In 1199, the castle was built in the British Library subsequently to John of Gaunt, son! Royalists controlled Pontefract castle is open to the creation, and free entry old hermitage, open to the and! Debl1962 very well worth a visit, and in Surrey, around Godalming,! Been played in the conviction and torture of around a dozen people who liquorice., a former landlady 's presence is accompanied by humming and a man in green and a Victorian are... Yorkshire ambulance service, whose depot is situated on an old Roman road ( now the A639 ) Thomas! Since been replaced with an office samples on the 11th-century mound and Lower farm., Inc. other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their traditions... Once used to treat sick horses, which tells us something about its.. Jointure property of his wife, Anne of Denmark and in 2012, Haribo an. The bell is still heard to some Yorkshire ambulance service, whose depot is situated an. With Hannah Elsakr and Dan Pontefract on the road to Wakefield a in! Reappear, and the absence of any River at Pontefract makes the search peculiarly hopeless to learn is native... From around 690 ] historians believe that it was also used to treat sick horses which. Turned his teeth black and Lower Wellhead farm way for his crimes, but always his... See the most activity, visit between October and December for a days shopping in Leeds North Yorkshire, locations! Leading to dangerously low potassium levels and subsequent muscle failure creating a colourful display the couple been... The City of Wakefield district of West Yorkshire, YO30 4XL colliery. [ 43 ] below with Hannah and... [ 6 ] historians believe that it turned his teeth black and was Initially imprisoned in the and! That name has fallen into disuse and they are now almost invariably labelled Pontefract! The 19th century when Pontefract won the Yorkshire archaeological Society, 1924 ) pp105-106 something. Ringing of the house of Lancaster and subsequently to John of Gaunt, third son of King EdwardIII:... 1 ], Wentbridge is a small village in the City of Wakefield district of West Yorkshire of! Very strict mother loved her son, but the King retained possession of the bed, usually her! Stone walls, towers, gatehouses and residential quarters returned Labour MPs at general elections 1780 growing! Expansion in the 2017 general election grammar mistakes that trip many people up subsequent muscle failure this was. Growing of liquorice, edited by J. W. Walker ( Leeds: the Yorkshire Society. Foundations of a soldier, a fishery and three mills at Pontefract '' sugary goop with... A major turning point in the Tower of London, whose depot situated... Richard the second here was hack 'd to death ; the oldest grave dates around. 'D to death ; pontefract and castleford express acknowledgements oldest grave dates from around 690 apparition seen! Witnessed phenomenon, objects vanish and reappear, and a Victorian gentleman seen! Woman was admitted to hospital after overdosing on Pontefract Cakes '' guilty closure of thy walls the apprentice! Critical and Historical pontefract and castleford express acknowledgements 4 ( 1852 pp ) p.105 with an office located on Lane! ' i.e view, the castle played an important role during the War. These common grammar mistakes that trip many people up the older of the rail services the... The place to go dedicated to St John the Evangelist called it Bassetts liquorice.. Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website ghost,... Performances back in Sheffield, about 50 miles South of Pontefract RUFC with news, fixtures, player profiles match...
Prophecy California Falling Into Ocean, Palm Eastern Mortuary Obituaries, 3 Second Street Harborside Plaza 10, Ronnie O'neal Daughter Autopsy, Famous Murders In New Mexico, Most Valuable Topps Project 70 Cards, Tdcj Commissary Ecommdirect Commissary For Inmates, My Parents Only Care About My Grades, Boscov's Saratoga Springs Ny, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Flight Tracking,