Page last updated 22/04/06
Elmet's
Pontefract
Town & Castle
Pontefract Castle as it appeared in 1380.
The famed painting of Pontefract Castle C. 1625-1630.
The original to be viewed in Pontefract Museum.
Model of Castle in Pontefract Museum
The now-closed passage within Pontefract Keep.
Lords of Pontefract Castle.
Ilbert de Lacy ?-1089
Robert de Lacy 1089-1121
Hugh de Laval 1121-1131
William Maltravers 1131-1136
Ilbert de Lacy (2nd) 1136-1141
William de Romare, Earl of Lincoln 1141-1146
Henry de Lacy 1146-1187
Robert de Lacy 1187-1193
Roger (Fitz-Eustace) de Lacy 1193-1211
John de Lacy 1211-1240
Edmund de Lacy 1240-1258
Henry de Lacy 1258-1310
Thomas, Earl of Lancaster 1310-1322
The 15th Century Counting House Inn.
Well worth a visit for anyone interested in the history of the area - and good for a nice pint of traditional local ales.
Ask to see upstairs- even if it is officially closed to the public - as it is during the mid-week.
A jewel of 15/16th century woodwork!
The History of this Historic Town.
From the Domesday Book - 1085/6 - we obtain the conditions of various manors gifted to Ilbert de Lacy. Nearest to what became Pontefract we find:-
"In Tateshall there are 16 carucates of land, without geld, where 9 ploughs may be. The King had this manor, now Ilbert has 4 ploughs there, and 60 small burgesses, and 16 cottars, and 16 villanes, and 8 bordars having 18 ploughs. A church is there and a priest, one fishery and 3 mills, rendering 42s. and 3 acres of meadow. Wood pasturable one leuga in length, and half a leuga in breadth. The whole manor one leuga and a half in length and half a leuga in breadth. Was worth 400s. now 300s. Within this limit is contained the alms-lands of the poor."
From Leland's work; given to him in 1534 by Henry VIII, and called 'Itinerary':-
"These be things that I most notid in Pontefract,
Sum olde People constantely adfirme that the Rigge or Watelyng Streate went through the Parke of Pontfract. As far as I gether this is the Towne caullid Legeolium. After it was caullid Brokenbridg. Ruines of such a Bridg yet ys seene scant half a mile est owt of olde Pontfract, but I cannot justely say that this Bridg stoode ful on Watelyng Streate.
Pontfract is a French name brought yn by the Laceys Normans for the English Word of Brokenbridg. Wher as now the fairest Parte of Pontfract stondith on the Toppe of the Hille, was after the Conquest a Chapel with a few sparkelid Houses; the Chapel was caullid S. Leonardes in the Frithe; and as I can lerne this Part was caullid Kirkeby."
However:-
'Symeon of Durham wrote that the ancient town of Tanshelf with its church at Kirkebi was now called Puntfraite'.
Dates when place names were recorded in various documents. 1086 DD. Book has. Friston & Ferie 1122 Pontisfracti 1160 Pontemfractum , 1258 Ponsfructus
All Saints Church.
Vicars.
Hugo de Birksburgh.
Antonio de Beck - 1267
Adam de Pollit - 1302
Nicholas de Erghes - 1316
William de Sutton - 1329
Roger de Paxton - 1338
Adam de Scargill - 1349
William de Sancto Albano - 1349
Hugo de Saxton - 1350
John de Becks - 1355
Adam de Scargill - 1361
Ricardo Douk - 1361
William Danke - 1365
John Thornton
John Cudworth - 1437
John Whyte - 1438
Thomas Challoner - 1465
Richard Berryman - 1483
Xtopher Bargh - 1483
John Stodfolde - 1485
Thomas Harryson - 1486
Peter Beke - 1489
Robert Cutteler - 1490
Thomas Bromflete - 1503
Finds during 2004: - During remedial work to the roadside wall beneath the castle workers discovered two large gate towers. These are much larger than those which feature on the painting shown above. They have sadly not been fully investigated but merely recorded and the site refilled.
All contents © copyright John Davey 2002-2004. All rights reserved.
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