The Medieval Castle's Best Defense Features & Mechanisms My house looks over the grounds itself. . King Henry VIII of England stayed at the castle arriving on 23 August 1541 during his summer royal progress of the North. He made the castle his personal residence, spending vast amounts of money improving it. [3] The Domesday Survey of 1086 recorded "Ilbert's Castle" which probably referred to Pontefract Castle. . Heritage After approx. Then younger visitors can create their own adventures in our castle themed adventure playground. While I lived there it was renovated and became a restaurant called Manuel's, it then became Dawats and then a series of takeaways. A contemporary French chronicler suggested that Richard II had been hacked to death, but this is, according to the ODNB, "almost certainly fictitious". The interpretation panels are very informative. It was in this year that popular belief has it that the famous Yorkshire Rose badge of Edward IV (the Yorkist king) was popularised. Tour, Now - Is it suitable for disabled wheelchair user. By the 13 th century, Pontefract Castle had been transformed from a humble wooden fort to a formidable stronghold. Discover 10 castles linked to the story of King Richard III. The first castle here was built by Ilbert de Lacy, a Norman lord who was granted large estates in Yorkshire by William the Conqueror. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. Sign up to receive their eNewsletter here. Unfortunately nothing remains of the Great Hall except the cellars underneath. Some annual events include Medieval Games, the Battle of Wakefield Anniversary and various theatre productions. Then thus: I have from Port Le Blanc, After Richard of Yorks death in battle, Pontefract Castle was taken over by Richard III who maintained control over it until his own death at Bosworth Field in 1485. the house was once owned by the undertaker. Today, the castle is a place of family-friendly adventure, with wide open spaces to play and fascinating ruins to investigate. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. During the English Civil War it was the last Royalist fortress to surrender and underwent numerous sieges until Parliament, more specifically Oliver Cromwell, ordered its demolition following Charles Is execution. Tourist Attraction, Monday : I've been in pontefract for a year now. Pontefract Castle was a symbol of royal power and dominance in northern England for almost 500 years. 3 NY High School Students Fight for Life After Gruesome Crash; Teen Driver Identified The 16-year-old driver, who didn't have a license, lost control of the vehicle while rounding a curve and . Join Pontefract Castle for a special Heritage Open Day tour under the keep of the castle! A brief history of the castle | Pontefract Castle - DigVentures This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. All contributors and available links to their work can be seen in the videos description.#adventureme #exploration #history #abandoned #pontefractcastle #pontefract #hiddenwell #secrettunnels #yorkshire [11], Royalists controlled Pontefract Castle at the start of the English Civil War. 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 91% of travellers recommend this experience. Theatre, ON Origins of Pontefract Castle . Decided to have a bus ride to Pontefract. Sat 06 May 2023. I would like to know whether dogs are welcome and there's anywhere to walk them. The castle grounds and visitor centre is also available to hire for private functions. It stands in the town of Pontefract, in West Yorkshire, England. It was during this period that the castle suffered ruin and dilapidation until it was finally demolished during the second English Civil War. [5] The de Lacys lived in the castle until the early 14th century. The White House Tunnel - Pontefract. The stone curtain walls and towers were added in the 1170's and the three storey stone shell keep a few years later. Sorry, really sorry - historians probably hate that kind of thing.During renovations we found a bricked up doorway/arch in the foundations of the exterior wall at the back of the house (North east corner). Underground streets, tunnels, culverts, April 2007 - The Hyde Park Picture House, June 2007 - Tunnels Under City Station. 2022. 6 Castles Connected to Shakespeare by Cassidy Cash - On the Tudor Trail A new visitor centre and cafe were opened in July 2017; but in April 2018 the council announced that they had terminated the contract with HB&C (North) Ltd, as no work had been done since mid-March, and they had not had any reassurances that the work would restart. A little, raggedly girl is also thought to be here. 105. And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, 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 . Pontefract - Welcome to Yorkshire The castle was besieged for a year, but the rebels eventually surrendered due to lack of supplies. My wife & i were interested in the history and surroundings. by bigpants Mon 12 Mar, 2007 8:13 pm, Post I took a trip when it was open and its a lovely place. One of the most infamous uses of the castle was to imprison Richard II who eventually died of starvation in the castle. When Bolingbroke landed at Ravenspur on the Humber, he made straight way for his castle at Pontefract. Pontefract has a history rife with famous prisoners Richard II, James I of Scotland and Charles Duke of Orleans were all imprisoned at different times in one of the castles many dungeons. Clean and tidy, well kept. Steve JonesI don't know everything, I just like to give that impression! Pontefract (or Pomfret) Castle is a castle ruin in the town of Pontefract, in West Yorkshire, England. All contributors and available links to their work can be seen in the videos description.#adventureme #exploration #history #abandoned #pontefractcastle #pontefract #hiddenwell #secrettunnels #yorkshire #dungeons #medievalcastle Under The Keep of Pontefract Castle - Experience Wakefield Pontefract Castle ruins 1 Pontefract Castle, Castle Garth Pontefract WF8 1QH ( north of centre ). by chris 90 Sun 11 Mar, 2007 9:58 pm, Post Pontefract Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor chris 90 wrote: according to a friends friend there is a tunnel that leads from a house in well lane Kippax across to the church yard some 300-500m in length. Tap & Barrel Pontefract. Sat 16 Sep 2023 - Parts of the original motte and bailey wall can still be seen, as can remnants of the chapel. Richard 11 was moved from the Tower of London to Pontefract Castle in 1399 and died there. according to a friends friend there is a tunnel that leads from a house in well lane Kippax across to the church yard some 300-500m in length. Pontefract Castle grounds are open 7 days a week Our Visitor Centre and Shop are open Weds to Sun 10-4pm Tel: 01977 723440 Parking: WF8 2JF. Not usually open to the public the keep gate is often connected with stories about secret tunnels leading to the castle. We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink. A visit to the ruined Pontefract Castle gave me some clues. Find out our opening hours, access information, things to see and do and stories from the Castle's. Sat 15 Jul 2023 - Ill get me torch and hammer and chisel and be round at yours in 10 mins!! Pontefract Castle was used extensively during the War of the Roses (1455 - 1485), when it was held by the Yorkist family. What a wonderful find whilst passing through. [6], Richard III had two relatives of Elizabeth Woodville beheaded at Pontefract Castle on 25 June 1483 her son, Sir Richard Grey, and her brother, Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers.[7]. O thou bloody prison, Ben was great, he took the time to speak to us at length and pointed out the location of the "old priory" which we wanted to visit. Get time period newsletters, special offers and weekly programme release emails. Tue 10 Oct 2023, ON Not usually open to the public the keep gate is often connected with stories about secret tunnels leading to the castle. 10:30 - 12:45. A beautiful castle in beautiful surroundings with some amazing views. Sunday 14th May 2023. Sir Thomas Erpingham, Sir John Ramston, While not always finding themselves on the right side of the various power struggles of the period, the Lacy family by and large remained in residence at Pontefract, if sometimes as tenants of the King rather than owners. Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at what a beautiful site Pontefract Castle is. Tweets. Summer Opening Hours (1 April 30 September): Dont miss the latest from Wakefield Museums and Castles. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. However I'd never been. Onto the photos: The White House. The Great Gate flanked by 14th-century semi-circular towers had inner and outer barbicans. When Edward II crushed his opposition, Thomas of Lancaster was executed here, and throughout the Wars of the Roses many rebels were put to death at the site. However some say that the spirits of those who lived and died here, still remain. Pontefract Castle - History and Facts | History Hit Nearest bus station: Pontefract Bus Station. the house was once owned by the undertaker. Recommended for people from 6 years old. Pontefract Castle - Experience Wakefield Talk, ON I've noticed there are some events here and I will be booking. We took our grandkids from Chester and they loved it all from history to play area, PONTEFRACT CASTLE - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Tue 04 Jul 2023 - Workshop, Now - But when King Edward II was forced out of his kingdom in 1326, Edward III handed over control of one-third of all English castles to Roger Mortimer, one of his most trusted allies. Pontefract Castle Wakefield, England, United Kingdom Originally a Norman structure, Pontefract castle played an increasingly important role in English Royal history for over 500 years. Sun 07 May 2023 - Theres masses of stuff to occupy families, younger visitors can get creative and test out their soldier skills while having a go at some civil war training activities on information boards around the grounds. Poltergeist House 30 East Drive Pontefract . Session takes place in the Activity Zone at, Discover the uses of plants in the herbalist Culpeppers day and decorate a sedum planter. The Castle Coffee Shop at Pontefract Castle, Kings Coronation Weekend at Pontefract Castle, Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tour Heritage Open Day, Friends & Enemies Pontefract & Sandal Castles, Have a Dabble Christmas Batik Table Runner, Have a Dabble Natural Christmas Garland, Have a Dabble Chocolate Christmas Treats, Truth, Myths & Lies 6 Key Events in the History of Pontefract Castle. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. It was known then as Ilberts Castle. Drakelow Tunnels Ghost Hunts, Worcestershire - HauntedHappenings.co.uk 20 October 1536 - The Surrender of Pontefract Castle A bay in Brittany, receivd intelligence, Pontefract Castle: History of England's Most Fearsome Fort There is not much in the way of shopping so we walked on to the castle. Sun 17 Sep 2023, ON However it was starting to head uphill. Pontefract Castle was an important base for the Royalists, and raiding parties harried Parliamentarians in the area. Incredible. Heard of the castle through family never seen it advertised anywhere,been English heritage members this castle was very good even on a bleak November day which was such a good surprise the local authority does it best but it is so under sold it has such a good position. By the beginning of the 15th century it had become a royal castles and had been strengthened with the addition of 7 new towers, one set outside the walls. 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. Much to the joy of the locals, it was destroyed after the Civil War and lay derelict for many years. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. William Shakespeares Wife: Who Was Anne Hathaway? 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 On the eastern side of Pontefract town centre, Castle Garth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 1QH. Not usually open to the public, the keep gate is often connected with stories about secret tunnels leading to the castle. Age guidance. Heritage Edward, while holding Pontefract Castle under siege from Lancastrians, is said to have ordered his men to paint a white rose on their helmets; a sign of good luck and meaning that they were claiming victory for Edward and his house (once known as the House of York). Pontefract Castle Pontefract, England. Sat 15 Jul 2023, Families Our only regret was that we didn't visit on a day when the dungeon tours take place. Sat 06 May 2023 - Google Maps 9:30 am In 1489, Pontefract Castle was besieged by Henry VII (who had become king after Richard III was killed, in battle). Visit to find out more. With the accession of the Lancastrians to the throne, Pontefract quickly began to hold a key position in the north of England, growing in size and importance whilst other castles nearby dwindled. Richard then shared some of the seized property around among his favourites. In 1536, the castle's guardian, Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy handed over the castle to the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a Catholic rebellion from northern England against the rule of King HenryVIII. [3] It was under the tenure of the de Lacys that the magnificent multilobate donjon was built.[2]. In 1461, Pontefract Castle was used as a prison by Richard Neville, who had recently taken the castle from the Lancastrians. We show you around the Castle Grounds, exploring all the remains and. So what do we have in Pontefract? by David Raven Mon 05 May, 2008 11:52 pm, Post Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now! Heritage This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. 9:30 am - 5:00 pm, Tuesday : Pontefract has three train stations with connections to Leeds, York, Sheffield and Kings Cross, all of which are walking distance from the castle. We take a look at the rumours of Secret Tunnels underneath the. [6] William Shakespeare's play Richard III mentions this incident: Pomfret, Pomfret! This year there are the secret tunnels underneath Pontefract Castle, merchants' gardens in Bridlington, a coal host at Goole Docks, England's last nail forge and even Hull Prison This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. During the siege, mining and artillery caused damage and the Piper Tower collapsed as a result. Tickets are now available for Under the Keep of Pontefract Castle - Heritage Open Days at Pontefract Castle, Pontefract on Sat 10 Sep 2022 at 10:00AM. English Civil War in Yorkshire - Welcome to Yorkshire This resulted in the earl becoming a martyr with his tomb at Pontefract Priory becoming a shrine. The White House Tunnel - Pontefract. The castle is open daily from April to September. I think the tunnel was used by monks or clergy men to escape from the church during the reformation when King Henry VIII sent soldiers out to plunder monastrys, churchs etc. Pontefract Castle, also known locally as Pontefract Castle Museum and Art Gallery, is a restored medieval castle in the town of Pontefract. Tue 07 Nov 2023 - Ben explained the way to get there on foot and where the monument was and also informed us about the Museum in the town. Car park located off Beech Hill. Pontefract Castle is a scheduled ancient monument in the guardianship of Wakefield District Council although it is still the property of Her Majesty the Queen as part of the Duchy of Lancaster . Following the death of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, in 1399, Richard II seized much of the property due to Bolingbroke. - 5:00 pm, Friday : - 5:00 pm, Sunday : Thank you for a lovely afternoon. more. PONTEFRACT CASTLE - ecastles.co.uk History Museum Pontefract, Yorkshire, England pontefractcastle.co.uk Joined August 2014. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Pontefract - 2023 (with Photos 8:30 am Performance Pontefract Castle | Pontefract 1978 to 1990 I lived in the house at 4 Leeds Road, the one referred to above as the second oldest house in Kippax. Share with your friends. Free. However, the King took possession of Castle Donington and Pontefract Castle. I have heard a couple of stories about tunnels in kippax. The Secret Tunnel Of Pontefract Castle | What's Inside? ON Poltergeist House 30 East Drive Pontefract. M-F 08:30-16:30, Sa Su 09:30-16:30. Pontefract Castle keep. You can however have a coffee and something to eat if you wish outside the cafe in our seating area and your dog is welcome outside with you. Pontefract Races. The castle ruins are free to enter. It was the seat of Thomas Earl of Lancaster. The stone curtain walls and towers were added in the 1170's and the three storey stone shell keep a few years later. Explore with us the beauty and rich history of West Yorkshire. The origins of the castle are thought to date back much earlier than its official construction in 1067. Today Pontefract Castle hold but a shadow of its former glory. When I was a kid growing up in Kippax in the 70s/80s, there was a local bit of folklore telling of a tunnel that started underneath 'Cheeney Basin' (Manor Garth hill - a ringwork and bailey castle by St. Mary's Church), and led all the way to Pontefract Castle. Pontefract Castle Museum and Art Gallery is now located at the site of the castle, but only two walls remain from the original structure. The castle, on a rock to the east of the town above All Saints' Church,[1] was constructed in approximately 1070 by Ilbert de Lacy[2] on land which had been granted to him by William the Conqueror as a reward for his support during the Norman Conquest. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. All that remains of the castle today are the 11th century cellars, and the remains of the Royal Apartments, the Saxon Church, the kitchens, the Keep, the Norman Chapel and the three towers. by MisterEyes Thu 01 May, 2014 11:24 pm, Post It is still possible to visit the castle's 11th-century cellars, which were used to store military equipment during the civil war. Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tour - YouTube History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel. Fatal and ominous to noble peers! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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. A Norman motte & bailey dating from 1072, built on a rocky outcrop. Sat 10 Jun 2023, Activity Today, the castle is a place of family-friendly adventure, with wide open spaces to explore and play, and fascinating ruins to investigate. The strange story of Britain's oldest sweet - BBC Travel Read more. Discover Pontefract. In the closing years of the 14th century, Richard II banished John of Gaunts son Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, from England. One of the most infamous moments in Pontefract Castles history came in 1399, when Henry IV, a Lancastrian, used it to imprison and murder the deposed king Richard II. I love visiting and learning about Norman and Medieval Castles. Pontefract Castle Learn more about visiting Pontefract Castle, Key to the North! These estates were known as the Honour of Pontefract, and de Lacy administered his . Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page. Be sure to leave time to explore the extensive grounds. [15], Wakefield Council, who manage the site, commissioned William Anelay Ltd to begin repairs on the castle in September 2015, but work stopped in November 2016 when Anelay went into administration. Featured Events. bigpants Posts: 66 Has your imagination been sparked? The castle is one of the finest examples of a Norman fortress in England. ( updated Aug 2018) Richard II was captured by Henry Bolingbroke's supporters in August 1399 and was initially imprisoned in the Tower of London. Pontefract - Travel guide at Wikivoyage It was alleged during his visit that Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, committed her first act of adultery with Sir Thomas Culpeper at Pontefract Castle, for which she was later apprehended and beheaded at the Tower of London without trial. [10] The castle was included in English jointure property of his wife, Anne of Denmark. by Croggy1 Fri 02 May, 2014 2:02 pm, Return to Underground streets, tunnels, culverts, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited. 8:30 am Holy thread resurrection batman! Pontefract Castle Built in 1070, Pontefract was an important medieval castle. Written March 6, 2020. Pontefract Castle - Britain's Castles Norman castle where Richard II met a nasty end.