Pontefract Cakes College Castle and Races South of Leeds<<>> Pontefract expresses its self as a solid working West Yorkshire town. And is situated on an old Roman road, described as the "Roman Ridge". The towns name originates from the Latin ponte fractus which, translated, means 'broken bridge'. It is not mentioned in the famous Doomsday Book, as a lot of places in the area are, but the area known as Tanshelf is. In this area of Tanshelf are the remains of an Anglo-Saxon church and cemetery with the oldest grave dating from around 690. Soon after the Norman Conquest in 1066 at around 1070, Pomfret castle was built on a spur of rock to the east of the present town centre. Originally constructed from wood as a motte and bailey castle it was later rebuilt in stone. William the Conqueror moved Ilbert Delacy into the castle to administer his extensive lands, which included Leeds and Bradford. In 1191 the Castle passed into the royal ownership of Richard I.
The hermit, Peter of Pomfret who is acknowledged in Shakespeare's play, The Life and Death of King John. Dug a hermitage 51 feet into the rock so he could contemplate. This cave, located under the hospital, can still be visited today with the help of the local Museum.
It was here, in 1400 A.D., that Richard II was murdered. Again William Shakespeare in his play Richard III narrates the incident: Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers! Within the guilty closure of thy walls Richard the second here was hack'd to death; And, for more slander to thy dismal seat, We give thee up our guiltless blood to drink.
It is thought that liquorice was first brought back to to the town from the Middle East during the Crusades. Its deep sandy soil made it one of the few places in Britain where liquorice plants could be cultivated. At first it was grown as a medicinal plant with the first sweets dating from the seventeenth century. While liquorice growing disappeared some time ago. The famous Pontefract Cakes (small liquorice sweets) are still produced, though the liquorice plant itself is no longer grown here. Up to the 1960s all liquorice cakes where made by hand and those who made them were known as Cakers or a Thumpers. First the large lumps of Liquorice were kneaded and rolled to make them pliable and then a piece the exact size was pinched off. After being flattened by hand, it would then be stamped with a hand stamper. In 1955 a Caker was paid 4 pence a tray, with each tray holding 280 cakes. An experienced Stamper could turn out 30,000 Pontefract Cakes a day. To celebrate the importance of the plant to the town a Liquorice Festival is held each year.
When the Civil War broke out, Pontefract Castle remained a royalist stronghold and was reputed to have been the last to fall to Cromwell's armies. Oliver Cromwell said it was " one of the strongest inland garrisons in the kingdom." Following the execution of Charles I, the royalist motto became Post mortem patris pro filio, Latin for "After the death of the father, we are for the son". During the sieges of the castle rough Siege Coins were struck to pay the troops. This motto was placed on the coins and it remains the motto of the town. The town suffered a great deal throughout the English Civil War and three sieges by the Parliamentarians left the town impoverished and depopulated. At the end of the Third Siege (24 March, 1649), the inhabitants, fearing a fourth, petitioned Parliament for the castle to be demolished. On 5 April, 1649, demolition began, leaving the crumbling sandstone ruins which you can see today
The Vale of Wentbridge on the edge of Pontefract south, is said to have been a hunting ground for Robin Hood who robbed travelers on the great 'roman' north road.
In the Middle Ages Pontefract was the main centre of West Yorkshire. By the eighteenth century its regional economic significance had declined but it was still a prosperous town.
A centrepiece of the town since its construction in 1734 is the Buttercross. Its original function was as a market shelter for farmers’ wives with their baskets of dairy produce. An inscription says "Erected by Mrs Elizabeth Dupier, relict of Solomon Dupier, gentleman, in a cheerful and generous compliance with his benevolent intention, 1734" Solomon Dupier played a prominent role in the capture of the rock of Gibraltar and received a valuable pension for his services. He settled in Pontefract and saw his wife and three daughters contracted smallpox and survive. In an act of thanksgiving he vowed to erect the Buttercross. He died on 20th August 1732 leaving money in his will to erect a Buttercross. The building has been a focal point of the town for many years and some extraordinary transactions have taken place there. In 1776 John Nutt brought his wife to the market cross and sold her to a Mr. Ryder for five shillings In 1815 another man succeeded in auctioning his wife. With an opening bid of one shilling his good lady was eventually sold for eleven shillings!
In 1872 Pontefract held the first secret ballot in Britain in the local by-election.
Pontefract races were first recorded in the 1700's and by the turn of the century regular races were being organised. The grandstand was erected in 1802 and in 1983 the course became the longest continuous racecourse in Europe at 2 miles and 125 yards.
Pontefract College south of Leeds is larger than most school sixth forms, with the range of subjects and variety of activities reflecting that fact. The College has consistently been the top performing A Level institution across the Wakefield district for many years. It is particularly noted for activities such as sport, music and drama. Pontefract has had a confident past and the same can be said for its future.
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