Pontefract

Pontefract is a market town in West Yorkshire, England. It's one of the townships of the City of Wakefield and a commuter town for Leeds.

Understand
During the 17th-century English Civil Wars, Pontefract like much of Yorkshire supported the Royalists. They remained resolute even after the execution of Charles I, hence the town motto Post Mortem Patris Pro Filio, Latin for "After the death of the father, support the son".

Pontefract was notable for growing liquorice, inspiring a famous poem by John Betjeman. Liquorice was first used as a medicine, but 18th-century apothecary George Dunhill noticed that the more sugar he added, the more he sold, so his throat lozenges morphed into Pontefract Cakes. What was now a confectionery business thrived, becoming part of Haribo in the 20th century, and a sweet smell often pervades the town. But local liquorice couldn't compete with imports from Turkey so the fields were grubbed out in the 1960s; there have been attempts to re-establish them.

Get in


See Wakefield and Leeds for long-distance travel options.

By train
It's a small town yet it has three railway stations, all just unstaffed platform halts with no facilities.



By bus
Pontefract doesn't have long-distance coaches, travel via Leeds or Wakefield.

Arriva Bus 148 / 149 runs every 15 min from Wakefield (40 min) via Featherstone and continues east to Knottingley.

Bus 140 / 141 runs every 15 min from Leeds, taking 70 min via Stourton, Oulton, Methley, Castleford and J32 retail park.

Bus 476 runs every two hours from Selby, taking 80 min via Eggborough, Kellingley and Knottingley.

From Doncaster, take a bus towards Wakefield and change.

The is in town centre.

Get around
The town is compact and walkable. Take bus 410 / 411 for Xscape.

See

 * All Saints' Church is next to the castle, which is why the 14th-century original church is a ruin, as first the Parliamentarians then the Royalists assaulted it. The present Anglican church was built within the ruin in 1967, and is combined as a benefice with the 18th-century St Giles Church in the market place. Of the former Cluniac Priory of St John the Evangelist, only the name "Monkhill" remains.
 * See also the 18th-century Buttercross in the market place, and the 14th-century merchant's house in an alley off Cornmarket (known locally as the pub “Counting House”, but long closed and in urgent need of repair).
 * All Saints' Church is next to the castle, which is why the 14th-century original church is a ruin, as first the Parliamentarians then the Royalists assaulted it. The present Anglican church was built within the ruin in 1967, and is combined as a benefice with the 18th-century St Giles Church in the market place. Of the former Cluniac Priory of St John the Evangelist, only the name "Monkhill" remains.
 * See also the 18th-century Buttercross in the market place, and the 14th-century merchant's house in an alley off Cornmarket (known locally as the pub “Counting House”, but long closed and in urgent need of repair).
 * See also the 18th-century Buttercross in the market place, and the 14th-century merchant's house in an alley off Cornmarket (known locally as the pub “Counting House”, but long closed and in urgent need of repair).

Do

 * Old Station is a Country & Western music festival held two miles south of town, on A639 towards Ackworth in late Aug.
 * Rugby League: Featherstone Rovers play in the Championship, the game's second tier. Their home ground is Post Office Road in Featherstone, three miles southwest of Pontefract. See Wakefield  for Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity RL teams.
 * Diggerland theme park is near Castleford.
 * Rugby League: Featherstone Rovers play in the Championship, the game's second tier. Their home ground is Post Office Road in Featherstone, three miles southwest of Pontefract. See Wakefield  for Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity RL teams.
 * Diggerland theme park is near Castleford.

Buy

 * Supermarkets in town centre are Tesco, Morrisons and Asda.

Eat

 * Plenty of cheap eats in town centre, but for high-end dining you'll do better in Leeds.
 * Plenty of cheap eats in town centre, but for high-end dining you'll do better in Leeds.

Sleep

 * There's another Premier Inn at Xscape, Castleford WF10 4TA.
 * There's another Premier Inn at Xscape, Castleford WF10 4TA.
 * There's another Premier Inn at Xscape, Castleford WF10 4TA.

Connect
As of Aug 2021, Pontefract has 5G from EE and Vodafone, and 4G from O2 and Three.

Buses and many other points have free WiFi. Pontefract public library (M-W, F Sa) has internet stations, printing and copying.

Go next
Leeds for big city attractions, but medieval York is a must-see.