You can be forgiven for only seeing the black aspects of the town (coal and licorice mines), but Pontefract boasts many architectural gems and contains more listed buildings than any other area in the Wakefield district, including half-timbered buildings with patios (ginnels) leaving the central streets and look for the Old Town Hall and the Butter Cross.
The city has benefited greatly over the years from the pedestrianization of the city center, where visitors can view the surroundings in peace and where some buildings are now seen and admired, perhaps for the first time in generations.
The excavation of the Castle, one of the most beautiful and noble fortifications in our history, was the place where Richard II was interned and “made” to death approximately 600 years ago.
Pontefract attracts a large number of visitors each year, most notably to the annual liquorice festival held in the town center and the opportunity to visit The Hermitage, descending fifty-five steps to a hermit’s cell below Southgate. However, you must contact Pontefract Infirmary to obtain the key and permission to view.
There are other underground passages that could be investigated leading to Mill Hill which were previously part of an underground sand quarry which supplied a glassworks and were used as bomb shelters during WWII!
The Valley Gardens in the center are home to mature cherry trees that look absolutely glorious in full bloom, their branches taut under the weight of dense pink blossom leading to very pleasant landscaped areas. The old aviary still stands, though sadly the birds are long gone due to a particularly nasty episode involving vandals.
The children’s pool still occupies its original site in the Gardens, evoking memories of children splashing and laughing on a hot summer’s day, although it is a rare sight today.
If history is your thing, then you won’t go wrong by visiting the Museum on Salter Row which is housed in what used to be the library, an old building that all but disappeared when the powers that be decided to modernize certain areas of the city. the new library is just a stone’s throw away.
Based on the fact that to some visitors, a town is only as interesting as its pubs, Pontefract has an abundance including the colorful but commonly named Green Dragon, Red Lion, Golden Lion etc, Elephant and Cartners Arms that over a hundred years ago . it was bought by a grocer of that name as a store before becoming a licensed house. Outwardly, Malt Shovel looks like an old medieval trough with the interior gutted and tastefully reimagined in a more contemporary style, if that’s your thing! However, one not to be missed is the Counting House, probably one of the oldest buildings in the entire city (save for Pontefract Castle and possibly the Hermitage) dating from 1480-1550 and restored to its original glory, inside and out, and believed by some to house its own resident ghost!
Even today, what probably draws most outsiders to the area is undoubtedly the racecourse, known to be one of the cleanest and best located in Britain, mainly due to its easy access from the start 32 of the M62, A1 and M18 and literally a five minute walk from the center of town.
In 1872, when the Voting Act was introduced in Britain and the first by-election was held, secret ballot boxes were used at Pontefract. The boxes had to be sealed with an official seal before being sent to a secret location where the votes could be counted. However, it turns out that the Officer who carried out this task may have used an unofficial seal. These urns can now be seen at the Pontefract Museum, where a very observant and knowledgeable person has discovered that the remains of the black seal are made of nothing more and nothing less than licorice… which may be an indication of occupation! of the official! With treasures like these on display, it’s no wonder tourists are drawn to the city!