£270,000 grant boosts tourism project for city's ruined castle

Wakefield Council has been awarded 270,000 by English Heritage to begin important conservation work on Pontefract Castle, which has been a ruin since 1644 when it was held as a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War.

The funding is to match 280,000 which the council has already committed to spend on developing plans to preserve the castle as a key tourist destination. The grant follows 10,000 already given by English Heritage for development work.

The latest funding was confirmed in a letter to Wakefield Council's chief executive, Joanne Roney.

The council's deputy leader, Denise Jeffery, who is responsible for regeneration, sport and culture, said: "We are working alongside English Heritage to carry out major improvement works at Pontefract Castle, which is designated as a Scheduled Monument.

"We applied for this grant some months ago and I am delighted that the money has now been confirmed.

"It is an important step forward in enabling us to start the first phase of work on Pontefract Castle which is an important asset for the district as a whole."

The grant aid will go towards the first phase of development work at the castle.

This includes detailed costings, emergency work to address any immediate repairs needed on the site and public displays to make visitors aware of the plans to preserve and improve the castle.

English Heritage's chief executive, Dr Simon Thurley, said: "We regard ourselves as a partner in this emerging project.

"We hope that additional funders will be found in due course to further enlarge the investment pot so that the castle can once again play a full role in the lives of the people of Pontefract and in its reputation and offer."

A spokeswoman for Wakefield Council said the money would support the conservation work and ensure the castle structure remained intact.

She added: "Proposed developments focus on improving the experience for visitors and range from improving interpretation material on site to providing facilities to allow cultural, heritage and leisure events and activities to take place there.

"Many of the proposals also look at how the castle site can be linked more effectively to the town centre and other regeneration initiatives taking place within Pontefract.

"Local people are being consulted about these draft proposals to influence which of them are prioritised."

In the Middle Ages, Pontefract Castle was one of the most important fortresses in the country.

It became a royal castle in 1399, upon the accession of Henry Bolinbroke to the throne.

Richard II subsequently died at the castle the following year after being one of many important prisoners to be held there.

During the English Civil War, it was held by the King's supporters throughout three sieges, but as a result, after 1649, it was largely demolished.

The remains of the castle, and the underground magazine, or military store, chamber, are open to visitors.

The cellars of the 11th century great hall were used as a military store from medieval times to the English Civil War period.

The underground magazine chamber is cut out of solid rock where visitors can see where Civil War prisoners carved their names into the cell walls.

Recent improvements include the refurbishment of the visitor centre and shop.

Paths have been resurfaced and benches have been varnished with the help of the Friends of Pontefract Castle.