Pontefract Castle

-1070 (Castle Established)

Ilbert de Lacy, a Norman Lord, established a fort at Pontefract. Ilbert had obtained two large estates from William the Conqueror after supporting him during the Norman Invasion. The lands were also referred to as the Honour of Pontefract, and de Lacy used the new fortress as his administrative centre.

However, records show there was a previous settlement on the site where de Lacy built Pontefract Castle. It was most probably a Saxon royal burgh (Tanshelf) since Pontefract Castle covers a part of the Saxon town walls.

The initial structure of Pontefract Castle was a wooden motte and bailey traditional castle. It also comprised an earth mound with a timber palisade layer. It was this Castle that the Domesday Book recorded in 1086.

In the late 11th century, there was an addition of a stone chapel dedicated to St Clement on the site. The original church was a simple single-cell structure. However, in the next century, the chapel got an apse and nave.

-1100s (Reconstructed in Stone)

Reconstruction of Pontefract Castle using stones occurred. The Great Hall was the fort’s stronghold, but only its vaulted cellars survived to date.

Robert de Lacy, the then lord of Pontefract Castle, revolted against Henry I when the King and his brother fought. Therefore, King Henry I confiscated Pontefract Castle.

Roger de Lacy (Robert’s heir) failed to regain the Castle even after paying 3000 marks to King Richard I. However, the succeeding King, John, restored Pontefract Castle to the de Lacys in 1199.

-1213

Upon Roger de Lacy’s death, his son John inherited the Castle. However, the crown later claimed ownership of Pontefract Castle together with Castle Donington.

The de Lacy family lived in Pontefract Castle up to the 14th century. During this period, they constructed the impressive multilobate donjon (keep).

-1300s

Pontefract Castle became the possession of the Lancastrians when the last male heir of the de Lacy’s died. The transfer occurred when Alice de Lacy married Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. However, Thomas didn’t own the Castle for long.

In 1322, Thomas of Lancaster rebelled against King Edward II at the Battle of Boroughbridge. Unfortunately, he lost the war, and the King had him executed on a hilltop near the Castle. He was buried at Pontefract Priory, a site for future pilgrimage.

Edward II lost ownership of Pontefract Castle, and the Lancastrians regained their estates. Castle later had new owners, including Henry, Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt (Edward III’s son).

After John of Gaunt’s death in 1399, King Richard II confiscated Pontefract Castle and banished Henry of Bolingbroke (John’s son) from England. However, Henry of Bolingbroke later claimed his inheritance, deposing Richard II, and ascended to the crown as Henry IV.

After his deposition, Richard II became a prisoner at Pontefract Castle. He allegedly died later at the Gascoigne Tower from starvation. The Castle also imprisoned notable persons, including James I, King of Scotland, Orleans, and the French Dukes of Bourbon.

-1400s

Pontefract Castle was a military base during the Wars of Roses. Richard III also visited the Castle when he was the Duke of Gloucester. After ascending to the throne in 1483, he ordered the execution of his political enemies at the Castle. These included Anthony Woodville and Sir Richard Grey.

-1485-1569

Pontefract Castle was a significant site of the royal armoury in Yorkshire. Therefore, a lot of funds went into maintaining the Castle. However, this was insufficient in enabling the garrison to hold Pontefract Castle during the 1536 revolt of the Pilgrimage of Grace.

When the Castle’s custodian, Thomas Darcy, surrendered the Castle to the Pilgrimage of Grace leaders, King Henry VIII had him executed for treason.

Pontefract Castle was also the site of the execution of Queen Catherine of Howard for allegedly committing adultery. The Castle also housed Mary, Queen of Scots, on her way to Wetherby and Rotherham.

Some repairs on Pontefract Castle had taken place after the 1536 revolt. However, a 1621 survey revealed that the Castle was deteriorating and needed repairing.  

-1644 (Castle Serves in Battle) 

Since Pontefract Castle was a principal royal defence centre in Northern England, it became a target for sieges during the English Civil War. Parliamentarian troops led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Colonel Lambert targeted the Castle, initiating the first besiegement.

However, in 1645, the Parliamentarian army surrendered the Castle after Marmaduke Langdale (the first Baron Langdale of Holme) brought royalist reinforcement. Therefore, the royalist troops won the war at Chequerfield.

Shortly after the royalists’ success, a second siege ensued as the garrisons had inadequate military power to safeguard the Castle. Hence, Parliamentarian troops recaptured Pontefract Castle.

-1648

Parliamentarian troops lost control of Pontefract Castle when royalists led by Captain Paulden and Colonel Morris sneaked in and besieged the Castle. The Parliamentarian army was under the command of Oliver Cromwell, who returned to London for Charles I’s trial.

Charles I faced execution in January 1949, and the garrisons proclaimed his son Charles II as the new King. Following the consent of the locals, the Major General, and the grand jury, Parliament passed an order to slight the Castle.

Therefore, Pontefract Castle faced severe demolitions to prevent future use as a military base, becoming the present ruin.

-2015

Wakefield Council engaged William Anelay Limited to repair Pontefract Castle, but the project stopped the following year. The Council then sought the services of Heritage Building and Construction (North) Limited to construct a Visitor Centre and a café.

-2019

Pontefract Castle was no longer on Historic England’s “Heritage at Risk” list following its restoration process and completion on Yorkshire Day.