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Pontefract Castle
The ruins left of Pontefract Castle, today, although far better
than the neighbouring Sandal Castle at Wakefield, are a far cry
from the impressive castle that stood until the mid 17th century.
The site of Pontefract Castle was first occupied in the late Iron
Age and Roman periods, with several important Roman sites in adjacent
areas, such as Castleford. The earliest remains found at the castle
site have been Saxon in origin, with a cemetery and possibly a
church standing on the site.
When King Harold was defeated by William, Duke of Normandy, at
Hastings, in 1066, he became the ruler of England, William I. He
gave large parts of the country away to his supporters, and one
such supporter was Ilbert de Lacy, who was offered a large chunk
of Yorkshire. The first castle of Pontefract was built by Ilbert
around 1070, as a wooden fortification. This was gradually rebuilt
in stone, over the following 100 years or so.
The de Lacy family continued to rule from the castle until the
death of Henry de Lacy in 1310. It was then left to Henry's daughter,
Alice, to succeed him, since both of his son's met early deaths.
Alice married Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, in 1311, which transferred
the castle to the House of Lancaster. Thomas was the grandson of
Henry III, and with England in general disorder, he strengthened
the castle's fortifications. He then became the most powerful man
in England after King Edward II and his armies were routed by the
Scots, at Bannockburn in 1314. Thomas opposed Edward II, his cousin,
and in 1322, he challenged Edward at the Battle of Boroughbridge
- but he was defeated and eventually executed at Pontefract. The
castle was then restored to his heirs and became part of the Duchy
of Lancaster, in 1351.
Following an age of Royal restrictions and general hardship, there
was a Peasant's Revolt in 1381, against the policies of John of
Gaunt. John was of Royal birth, his father was Edward III and brother,
Edward, the Black Prince. When Henry, Duke of Lancaster died in
1361, Pontefract Castle passed to John of Gaunt, as husband of
Henry's daughter, Blanche. John became guardian to his nephew,
Richard II, and virtually ran the country, taking refuge in Pontefract
Castle during the Peasant's Revolt.
During these times of unrest, Thomas, Duke of Gloucester and four
others, formed the "Lord's Appellant", and convicted
five of King Richard's top advisors for treason in 1397. Richard
then sentenced three of the Lords to death and banished the other
two, one of them being Henry Bollingbroke, the eldest son of John
of Gaunt. Upon John's death in 1399, King Richard II confiscated
the Lancastrian estates.
In that same year, King Richard travelled to Ireland, which allowed
Henry Bollingbroke to land at Ravenspur, to reclaim his confiscated
title of Duke of Lancaster. Upon Richard's return, he was forced
to surrender to Henry, and was imprisoned at Pontefract Castle,
where he eventually died. When Henry's claim to the throne was
confirmed in 1399, he became King Henry IV and Pontefract became
a Royal Castle.
The castle was further strengthened by the Lancastrian Kings throughout
the 14th & 15th centuries, and became one of the most powerful
Royal Castles in England. It was used to house important prisoners,
and, during the War of the Roses, was used as a Lancastrian stronghold,
in 1460, during the Battle of Wakefield.
 
The castle fell into disuse in the 16th century,
until the start of the Civil War, where it was held for the King
and suffered three sieges in 1644, 1645 and 1648. It was during
these sieges that the very rare Ponefract siege coinage was used.
Before the castle was finally surrendered in 1649, the town of
Pontefract suffered great damage. Because of this suffering, an
act of Parliament, put forward by the local people, called for
the castle to be destroyed and it was duly reduced to the ruins
seen today, much of the stonework being incorporated into local
buildings.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, there was little
interest in the castle, with it being used to grow liquorice at
one point. The Victorians turned it into a park and planted trees
within the ruins. These trees are now damaging the structure of
the castle, but little is being done about it.
You can visit the grounds for free. Details are available at this
site: CLICK
HERE.
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