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| Some of the remains of Pontefract Castle, overlooking the town. Photo by Paul Jackson. |
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In the district of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, the large market town of Pontefract is probably most well-known for liquorice – Pontefract Cakes – or the castle that overlooks the town.
Pontefract, or 'Pomfret', is mentioned in Shakespeare's plays as a place of power and influence often visited by royalty. This has certainly been true in the town's history. Pontefract castle was built around 1070 by Ilbert de Lacey and was one of the most formidable fortresses in Norman England, with the town's ideal position on a steep and commanding hill.
Richard II was imprisoned and murdered in the castle on the instructions of Henry Bolingbroke who then went on to become King Henry IV. This was when the castle passed into royal ownership, and still is, being currently owned by the Duchy of Lancaster.
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Today the castle is in ruins – it was largely demolished after it was held in sieges during the Civil War, as the locals were fed up of warfare – but with sections of the inner bailey and the keep still intact. Parts of the dungeons and underground chambers can still be identified and it is certainly interesting to explore the remains of such a powerful historical site. The site caters for visitors, with models and drawings of how the castle used to look, and trails and worksheets for the youngsters.
Pontefract's most famous industry is liquorice growing and sweet manufacturing. It is thought that soldiers who fought in the Crusades brought liquorice back, and the deep sandy soil around Pontefract made it one of the few places in Britain where liquorice plants could be cultivated. The town made a name internationally for its sweets, particulary Pontefract Cakes, but over time this industry has changed and liquorice is no longer grown in the area, although there are a small number of local firms that still make sweets with liquorice. To celebrate the culture and heritage of the liquorice capital of England, each summer the town hosts Pontefract Liquorice Festival, which includes street entertainers, music, food and drink sampling, craft, gift and food stalls and activities for children.
Pontefract Museum, next to the library in the town centre, is worth a visit if you are interested in the area's history – or if the weather forces you indoors. The building itself is attractive, a fine example of Art Nouveau architecture built in 1904. It once housed the town's library and became a museum in 1978.
For nicer days, take a walk through the large Pontefract Park. The park has space for playing a variety of sports, a golf course, tennis court, as well as a play area and woodland areas. The lake in the park is popular with anglers. The park is also located close to the racecourse. The famous track holds around 16 race meetings a year and is the longest continuous flat in the country, at two miles and 125 yards.
The busy town centre is pleasant to walk around, with the usual variety of high street shops and eateries. Whilst wandering around the shops, it is worth taking notice of the buildings that house many of these businesses. There are many different architectural styles on show, from medieval to Georgian and Victorian, amongst the more modern additions.
Pontefract's impressive Market Hall was built in 1859, originally as a meat market. However, only the stone facade on Market Street still exists today as the rest of the building was destroyed by fire and rebuilt and reopened in 1957. The market there is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm and there is an outdoor market every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8.30am to 4pm, selling all kinds of goods and fresh produce.
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