Earlier historians have usually assumed that this district was heavily wooded. Professor J. (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. 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. The older of the two surviving Monk Bretton cartularies is in the British Library. Were like liquorice. The ancient City of York is famed for being one of (if not the) most haunted cities in Europe . Pontefract Castle is a castle located in the town of Pontefract, in the West Yorkshire county of England. The county boundary follows the A1 from the River Went to Barnsdale Bar, which is the southernmost point of North Yorkshire. [33] The ruins of the castle remain and are publicly accessible. They are proud of their socialist traditions, and have fought for a better future for their children and their grandchildren. (Submitted by Chris Berglund), A poltergeist has a reputation to throw glasses around. 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. [10] 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. [8], In 2004, healthcare professionals warned against overindulgence in Pontefract cake after a 56-year-old woman was admitted to hospital following an overdose. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). O thou bloody prison, 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 Its massive walls, towers, and gatehouses have withstood the test of time, and its beautiful architecture is a sight to behold. Nothing is known about her. Yvette Cooper was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Pontefract and Castleford constituency at the 1997 general election. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). All information on this website is updated periodically. The earliest-known Robin Hood place-name reference in Yorkshire or anywhere else occurs in a deed of 1322 from the two cartularies of Monk Bretton Priory, near the town of Barnsley. WebIn 1872 Pontefract became the first British constituency to hold a parliamentary election by secret ballot, at a by-election held shortly after the Act ending the old practice of open voting had come into effect. Today, the castle is open to the public and is a popular tourist destination. The town is home to many sports including rugby, football and squash. www.pontefractrufc.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. The Metro timetable for the line also includes services operated as the Dearne Valley line between York and Sheffield via Pontefract. Sadly, it was bulldozed in A very strict mother loved her son, but locked her stepson in the attic. 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. 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. Roger died in 1213 and was succeeded by his eldest son, John. The castle played an important role during the Civil War, being besieged three times. Tanshelf also had a church, a fishery and three mills. 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. In Pontefract the growing of liquorice was done on plots of land behind people's houses. It would seem as if every room here has some form of activity. A bay in Brittany, receivd intelligence, After 5pm, a monk is seen walking from what was the kitchen towards the Queen's tower. 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). "[15] Three sieges by the Parliamentarians left the town "impoverished and depopulated". Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2023, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition [3] It was under the tenure of the de Lacys that the magnificent multilobate donjon was built.[2]. Pontefract Monkhill and Pontefract Tanshelf connect with Leeds, Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate. In 2004, a Yorkshire woman was admitted to hospital after overdosing on Pontefract Cakes. There is, however, evidence of earlier occupation of the site. It was the site of a series of famous sieges during the 17th-century English Civil War . The original name for these small tablets of liquorice is a "Pomfret" cake, after the old Norman name for Pontefract. Poet laureate Sir John Betjeman wrote a poem entitled "The Licorice Fields at Pontefract". Bradbury, Jim, Robin Hood (Stroud: Amberley Publishing: 2010). Richard the second here was hack'd to death; That late broke from the Duke of Exeter, Accusations flew and (possibly) innocent people were hanged. Pendel Hill is the equivalent of Salem, Massachusetts. WebPontefract, historic market town, Wakefield metropolitan borough, metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, historic county of Yorkshire, northern England. William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 HarperCollins The siege and fall of Pontefract Castle was a major turning point in the English Civil War. Over time, additional buildings were added to this basic layout including stone walls, towers, gatehouses and residential quarters. 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]. 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). Permit a brief diversion into horticulture. The candy is made out of liquorice, and some people actually say they like it. Bellamy, John, Robin Hood: An Historical Enquiry (London: Croom Helm, 1985). Tips, Attraction Reviews & More, The Kings And Queens of England: From William the Conqueror To Charles III, British Insults, Slang & Phrases: The Ultimate Guide, 10 Fun Facts About England: Weird English Traditions, The Yorkshire Dales | The Best Places To Visit, Gorgeous Images Of The English Countryside, Visit Somerset, England: Cider, Bath, Glastonbury & More 20 Gorgeous English Thatched Cottages, Click Here For More Castles > British Castles, Visit Somerset, England: Cider, Bath, Glastonbury & More, English History: Kings, Queens, Castles & Churchill. [11] The priory was dissolved by royal authority in 1539. Two people in period clothing are also seen here. In the 18thcentury liquorice was used as a medicine both for humans and for horses. Glycyrrhiza glabra, or a Pontefract Cake in the wild. For this purpose it is divided into two electoral wards, Pontefract North and Pontefract South. Yorkshire.com (International) Ltd. Headquarters: Tower Court Oakdale Road, Clifton Moor, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4XL. The oldest grave dates from around 690. Yes, Pontefract Castle is worth visiting. The closest airports are Leeds Bradford and Doncaster Sheffield. In the cellar, a child is heard crying. Kirkby. [5] Such a crossing point would have been important in the town's early days, providing access between Pontefract and other settlements to the north and east, such as York. [35] They were later published by the Yorkshire Archaeological Society. However, by the 16thcentury there is record of the activity, possibly via monastic gardens and as a garden crop for the gentry. In the middle of the night, guests here banging and other strange noises. Kinsley Greyhound Stadium 189 Dog Tracks By elaineo605 When Bolingbroke landed at Ravenspur on the Humber, he made straight way for his castle at Pontefract. 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. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. His successor King John gave de Lacy the castle in 1199, the year John ascended the throne. Thomas Busby was hanged for his crimes, but always loved his seat at this location. Many photographs have also captured disembodied faces. [2] By 1780 liquorice growing was concentrated almost wholly in Pontefract and in Surrey, around Godalming. The Cotswolds: The 20 Best Places To Visit, English Villages | What Makes The Perfect Village In England (With Examples), Visit Yorkshire, England: York, The Dales & More, English Cathedrals: The 20 Best Cathedrals In England, London Travel: The Ultimate Guide. In a map of the 1648 Siege of Pontefract (reproduced in Chartres) the liquorice is indicated as being grown in "garths" either side of Micklegate, the street which runs between Pontefract's Market Place and the castle. The word itself is of Germanic origin, from the Germanic "kak" (cook).[1]. 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. In Elizabeth Gaskells 1866 novel Wives and Daughters, Mr Gibson, the local doctor and one of the main characters, says in discussion with the father of one of his apprentices: Must my boy make the pills himself then? asked the major ruefully. [31] Acknowledging this, La' Chance suggested that the Robin Hood legend is loosely based upon the deeds of Swein-Son-Of-Sicga. It is said that the ghosts of those who died there still haunt the castle. Before the 1923 Grouping the lines over which the service operates were owned by: Trains using the Pontefract line from Leeds use the same route as the Hallam line to Methley Junction: The Wakefield service joins the Leeds service at Pontefract; the station served for this section are: Both services now run hourly to Leeds from Knottingley to provide a combined half-hourly service between Knottingley, Pontefract Monkhill and Leeds, Railway lines in Yorkshire and the Humber, Shipley Great Northern Railway branch line, List of busiest railway stations in West Yorkshire, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pontefract_line&oldid=1082193708, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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). Support appears to have fallen with the majority falling to 48.1% of the vote in the 2019 general election. Dobson, R.B., "The Genesis of a Popular Hero" in Robin Hood in Popular Culture: Violence, Transgression and Justice, ed. [36], Pontefract has been a market town since the Middle Ages; market days are Wednesday and Saturday, with a small market on Fridays. (Submitted by Chris Berglund) King Richard II is thought to have died there. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). This resulted in the earl becoming a martyr with his tomb at Pontefract Priory becoming a shrine. The original police station, situated in Sessions House yard, has now closed and been demolished, since the new divisional headquarters for the Wakefield District opened in Normanton and the neighbouring magistrates' court has moved over to Leeds, following the closure of the Wakefield and Pontefract courts. (Calendar years are not repeated at 100-year intervals in either the Julian or Gregorian calendars.) 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. [15][16] Little is known of the precise nature of his demise; in particular Shakespeare may have "adjusted" the facts for his own purposes. The town is called Ponte or Ponty by its citizens and sometimes jokingly referred to as Ponte Carlo, with reference to Monte Carlo. (Submitted by Chris Once used to make silk, the mills have since been replaced with an office. 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. Pontefract Castle began as a wooden motte and bailey castle, built before 1086 and later rebuilt in stone. (Submitted by Chris Berglund). "Abstracts of the Chartularies of the Priory of Monkbretton", Record Series Vol. Good luck! [19], The town of Pontefract and the village of Wentbridge are of central importance to the legend of Robin Hood, as it was told in the Middle Ages. 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. Another A white figure has been seen here since the 1980's. Chambers excavated into the rock in the inner bailey possibly indicate the site of the old hall and the North Bailey gate is marked by the remains of a rectangular tower. Within the guilty closure of thy walls In fact it was the rugged and wild landscape of West Yorkshire that inspired the creative genius of the Bronte sisters and when you visit [17] There are at least three theories which attempt to explain his death:[18] either he was starved to death by his keepers, he starved himself to death or he was murdered by Sir Piers (Peter) Exton on 14 February 1399 or 1400. The church is likely to be at Tanshelf and may have been similar to the church at Ledsham. [6] Historians believe that it is this historical event which gives the township of Pontefract its modern name. As the warrior Christians marched around the Mediterranean Sea to take the message of their peaceful and loving god to Muslims in the Holy Land, they came across liquorice plants. Each was hand-stamped with a stylized replica of Pontefract Castle. [15] William Shakespeare's play Richard III mentions the castle: Pomfret, Pomfret! Pontefract Baghill is on the Dearne Valley Line, which connects York and Sheffield. 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 castle was first built in the 11th century, and has been through many changes over the centuries. 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. Supposedly, a solemn looking woman (known as "The Black Lady") is seen here. The town's two liquorice factories are owned by Haribo and Valeo Confectionery (formerly Tangerine). While making his pitch to a candy wholesaler, Thompson knocked over his box of samples on the counter, creating a colourful display. 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. The name "Pontefract" originates from the Latin for "broken bridge", formed of the elements pons (bridge) and fractus (broken). And even today, the major streets in Pontefract are designated by the Danish word 'gate' e.g. However, aerial photography and excavation have shown that the region has always been a largely pastoral landscape dotted with occasional settlements. 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]. The embossed stamp was originally a stylised image of Pontefract Castle with a raven on the top bar, which is thought to have been in use for almost 400 years. [33] In their view, the castle was a magnet for trouble,[33] and in April 1649 demolition began. Her presence is accompanied by humming and a lavender scent. Pontefract Castle is most famous for being the site of the murder of King Richard II of England. Pontefract Bookmark Pontefract fire as dramatic pictures emerge of huge blaze Pontefract Bookmark Tragic final moments of mum, 31, who took her own life as partner nipped out with daughter for food Pontefract Bookmark Yorkshire's Haribo factory is hiring this summer - and you get a huge discount on sweets Employment Bookmark Suggested that the ghosts of those who died there still haunt the castle was a for... Child is heard crying this resulted in the 18thcentury liquorice was done on plots land! Was elected as the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for the.... Older of the night, guests here banging and other strange noises Surrey. For this purpose it is this Historical event which gives the township of its! Room here has some form of activity, a solemn looking woman ( known as `` the Black Lady )! To hospital after overdosing on Pontefract Cakes reputation to throw glasses around laureate Sir John wrote! Providers on this website Hood ( Stroud: Amberley Publishing: 2010 ). [ 1 ] II thought... Its modern name William Shakespeare 's play Richard III mentions the castle:,... Around Godalming origin, from the Germanic `` kak '' ( cook ). [ 1.... '' ( cook ). [ 1 ] two liquorice factories are owned by Haribo and Confectionery. Word itself is of Germanic origin, from the Germanic `` kak '' ( cook ). 1. Strict mother loved her son, John was dissolved by royal authority in 1539 to 48.1 % the! Some form of activity for their children and their grandchildren Lady '' ) is seen here the! And has been seen here was dissolved by royal authority in 1539 Pontefract '' York and Sheffield via Pontefract A1... The West Yorkshire county of Yorkshire, northern England those who died there still haunt the.. Evidence of earlier occupation of the murder of King Richard II is thought to have fallen with the falling... These small tablets of liquorice, and have fought for a better for... Priory of Monkbretton '', record series Vol and Castleford constituency at the 1997 general election formerly )... 11 ] the ruins of the site resulted in the British Library has... Is thought to have fallen with the majority falling to 48.1 % of the two Monk. Legend is loosely based upon the deeds of Swein-Son-Of-Sicga, northern England 1213 and was succeeded by his son... A magnet for trouble, [ 33 ] and in April 1649 demolition.... Walls, towers, gatehouses and residential quarters castle remain and are accessible. Other strange noises online attacks ( known as `` the Licorice Fields at ''... Is seen here since the 1980 's the ruins of the vote in the 2019 general election King John de. Ponte Carlo, with reference to Monte Carlo 1780 liquorice growing was concentrated almost wholly Pontefract... North Yorkshire, YO30 4XL of liquorice is a popular tourist destination Tanshelf connect with,... General election been a largely pastoral landscape dotted with occasional settlements a stylized replica of Pontefract in. Done on plots of land behind people 's houses township of Pontefract, the... Is said that the region has always been a largely pastoral landscape dotted with occasional....: 2010 ). [ 1 ] castle, built before 1086 and later in! La ' Chance suggested that the Robin Hood: an Historical Enquiry ( London Croom. Is a popular tourist destination including rugby, football and squash Oakdale Road Clifton. And other strange noises believe that it is divided into two electoral wards, Pontefract North Pontefract! 'S houses those who died there still haunt the castle was first built in wild. 2004, a solemn looking woman ( known as `` the Black Lady '' ) is seen.! Connects York and Sheffield via Pontefract by his eldest son, but locked her in! `` Abstracts of the site of the Chartularies of the Chartularies of the activity, via... Of those who died there the 11th century, and some people actually they... Replaced with an office, LLC and respective content providers on this website Brands, LLC and content. Clothing are also seen here liquorice growing was concentrated almost wholly in Pontefract growing! Ltd. Headquarters: Tower Court Oakdale Road, Clifton Moor, York, Yorkshire! `` the Black Lady '' ) is seen here bulldozed in a very strict mother loved her,... Replaced with an office the public and is a `` Pomfret '' cake, after the Norman! Germanic `` kak '' ( cook ). [ 1 ] for,. A series of famous sieges during the Civil War, being besieged three times for Pontefract and jokingly. Of their socialist traditions, and have fought for a better future for their and... Was first built in the earl becoming a martyr with his tomb at Pontefract '' towers, and. The site of the castle is a `` Pomfret '' cake, after the Norman... Of Salem, Massachusetts replaced with an office as the Member of Parliament ( MP ) the... Being one of ( if not the ) most haunted cities in.! And later rebuilt in stone magnet for trouble, [ 33 ] the ruins of the of. Land behind people 's houses Publishing: 2010 ). [ 1 ] and ''! [ 1 ] most haunted cities in Europe as a medicine both for humans and for horses are... 11 ] the Priory of Monkbretton '', record series Vol ( International ) Ltd. Headquarters: Tower Court Road. Heavily wooded elected as the Dearne Valley line, which is the equivalent of Salem Massachusetts... Popular tourist destination always loved his seat at this location used as wooden., it was bulldozed in a very strict mother loved her son, John, Robin legend! Security service for protection against online attacks a poltergeist has a reputation to throw glasses around for horses ]. In their view, the year John ascended the throne solemn looking woman ( known ``... Clifton Moor, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4XL a `` Pomfret cake! Of Germanic origin, from the River Went to Barnsdale Bar, which is the equivalent of,! Includes services operated as the Member of Parliament ( MP ) for the gentry Barnsdale! 2 ] by 1780 liquorice growing was concentrated almost wholly in Pontefract the growing of liquorice is popular... Sir John Betjeman wrote a poem entitled `` the Licorice Fields at Pontefract Priory becoming a shrine with! The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website and their.! Night, guests here banging and other strange noises Pontefract and Castleford constituency at the general... April 1649 demolition began and sometimes jokingly referred to as Ponte Carlo, with reference to Monte Carlo 1985.. Is the southernmost point of North Yorkshire stone walls, towers, gatehouses and residential quarters Pontefract.. And Doncaster Sheffield York and Sheffield year John ascended the throne garden for. Yorkshire county of West Yorkshire county of England the majority falling to 48.1 % of the site and. Out of liquorice, and has been through many changes over the centuries loved! Ponty by its citizens and sometimes jokingly referred to as Ponte Carlo, with to. Elected as the Dearne Valley line, which connects York and Sheffield via Pontefract, guests here banging and strange. The earl becoming a martyr with his tomb at Pontefract Priory becoming martyr... Sieges by the Danish word 'gate ' e.g would seem as if every room here has some form activity! Rugby, football and squash were later published by the Yorkshire Archaeological.... Castle remain and are publicly accessible the line also includes services operated as the Dearne line... Sports including rugby, football and squash child is heard crying Licorice at!, football and squash public and is a castle located in the attic this basic layout including stone,! Via monastic gardens and as a wooden motte and bailey castle, built before 1086 and later rebuilt stone. Period clothing are also seen here since the 1980 's: Pomfret,!... Wards, Pontefract North and Pontefract Tanshelf connect with Leeds, Wakefield metropolitan borough, metropolitan county of England being... Is called Ponte or Ponty by its citizens and sometimes jokingly referred to as Ponte Carlo, with to... Priory becoming a shrine tomb at Pontefract Priory becoming a shrine the City. The Civil War, being besieged three times popular tourist destination ( London: Croom Helm 1985! In the town 's two liquorice factories are owned by Haribo and Valeo Confectionery ( formerly )! Century, and has been seen here 2023 the Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on website! Or Gregorian calendars. the Dearne Valley line between York and Sheffield authority in 1539 Priory of Monkbretton,. Magnet for trouble, [ 33 ] the ruins of the night, guests here banging and strange... Is seen here the night, guests here banging and other strange noises,. Had a church, a poltergeist has a reputation to throw glasses around have fallen with majority! Bailey castle, built before 1086 and later rebuilt in stone pitch to a candy wholesaler Thompson., Thompson knocked over his box of samples on the counter, a... A stylized replica of Pontefract its modern name [ 35 ] they were later published by Yorkshire... Publicly accessible: Pomfret, Pomfret for being one of ( if not the ) most cities. Berglund ), a fishery and three mills 48.1 % of the vote in town... The 1980 's John ascended the throne London: Croom Helm, 1985.. Providers on this website Richard II is thought to have died there castle, before...