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

Racecourse Retail Park Pontefract, Wakefield

Racecourse Retail Park retail park

Pontefract Racecourse Pontefract, Wakefield

Pontefract Racecourse retail park

South Baileygate Retail Park Pontefract, Wakefield

South Baileygate Retail Park retail park

Morrisons Stuart Road, Pontefract

Morrisons supermarket

M&S Foodhall 9, Beastfair

M&S Foodhall supermarket

Tesco 10, Cornmarket

Tesco supermarket

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)

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Pontefract map

Pontefract UK Map