Pontefract
Pontefract
Pontefract is a small town in West Yorkshire, England, located on the River Aire. It has a long and rich history that dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period and is steeped in cultural heritage. The town is most known for its sweet Yorkshire treat of liquorice, Pontefract Cakes, which have been produced here since 1614 and are popular with both locals and visitors.
The town centre of Pontefract is small but vibrant with a variety of shops and cafes. There are plenty of historic buildings to explore including the ancient castle ruins, Pontefract Priory and All Saints Church, which is one of the oldest churches in Yorkshire. The addition of modern shops like Marks & Spencer means shoppers can find something for everyone here
For those looking for outdoor activities, there are many parks to explore such as Pollington Park where visitors can take a leisurely walk or enjoy a picnic lunch by the river. The nearby city of Leeds also offers plenty of shopping opportunities as well as theatres, museums and galleries for cultural experiences
If you’re visiting during the summer months, don’t miss out on the annual Pontefract Liquorice Festival held every July where you can sample homemade treats from local bakers and get involved in traditional activities like archery or Morris dancing.
Not far from Pontefract are other towns worth exploring such as Knottingley, Ferrybridge and Featherstone offering more quaint British villages full of interesting character and traditional pubs to stop off in along your journey between these places
Whether you’re looking to visit some historical sites or just want a relaxing break away from it all with some charming views along your travels then look no further than Pontefract; there really is something for everyone here!
Created: 26 December 2022 Edited: 29 November 2023
Pontefract
Shopping in Pontefract
Pontefract Racecourse Pontefract, Wakefield
Pontefract Racecourse retail park
South Baileygate Retail Park Pontefract, Wakefield
South Baileygate Retail Park retail park
Racecourse Retail Park Pontefract, Wakefield
Racecourse Retail Park retail park
Asda Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract
Asda supermarket
ALDI South Baileygate, Pontefract
ALDI supermarket
Morrisons Stuart Road, Pontefract
Morrisons supermarket
M&S Foodhall 9, Beastfair
M&S Foodhall supermarket
Tesco 10, Cornmarket
Tesco supermarket
Local History around Pontefract
There are some historic monuments around including:
Pontefract Castle: part of late Saxon cemetery and town ditch, Norman motte and bailey castle and later medieval enclosure castleRoman Fort and Associated Features 150m South-West of Standing Flat BridgeFairburn Ings (Newton Abbey) moatFerrybridge near KnottingleyChurchyard cross at the Parish Church of St Luke and All SaintsFerrybridge Henge, a prehistoric enclosure, and two round barrowsBoundary cross on the corner of Ferrybridge Road and Stumpcross LaneRoman Bath House, CastlefordSt John's Priory.Wildlife in and Around Pontefract
Mammals found in Pontefract
There have been 28 species of mammals recorded in the pontefract area.
45 Khz Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) |
Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) |
Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) |
Common Shrew (Sorex araneus) |
Fallow Deer (Dama dama) |
Badger (Meles meles) |
Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) |
Chinese Barking Deer (Muntiacus reevesi) |
Domestic Cat (Felis catus) |
Feral Ferret (Mustela putorius subsp. furo) |
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Birds found in Pontefract
There have been 50 species of birds recorded in the pontefract area.
Bar-Headed Goose (Anser indicus) |
Carolina Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) |
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) |
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) |
French Partridge (Alectoris rufa) |
Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) |
Chiloe Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix) |
Common Swift (Apus apus) |
European White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons subsp. albifrons) |
Gadwall (Anas strepera) |
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Fish found in Pontefract
There have been 17 species of fish recorded in the pontefract area.
Bream (Abramis brama) |
Brown/Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) |
Carp (Cyprinus carpio) |
Crucian Carp (Carassius carassius) |
Gudgeon (Gobio gobio) |
Brown Trout (Salmo trutta subsp. fario) |
Bullhead (Cottus gobio) |
Chub (Squalius cephalus) |
Eel (Anguilla anguilla) |
Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) |