Work starts to rescue crumbling tower site

The latest project, which will take 10 weeks to complete, will see work carried out on the famous Gascoigne Tower.

The work will fully conserve and protect the famous tower where King Richard II was once held prisoner.

Contractors will be preserving the cellar of the tower and the project’s stonemasons will be replacing some of the damaged stone so that the remains are better equipped to stand up to the winter weather.

Access to parts of the site will be limited during the work, but the majority of the castle will be open as normal.

The work is being funded by environmental organisation WREN, Wakefield Council and English Heritage.

The total cost of phase two of the works is £100,000 of which £50,000 comes from WREN, with the remainder made up from £25,000 each from English Heritage and Wakefield Council.

The contributions from Wakefield Council and English Heritage form part of a wider commitment of £280,000 from each organisation, towards conservation works at the castle and to develop the site as a sustainable tourist destination.

Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for culture, Coun Dave Dagger, said: “We are working hard to fully conserve Pontefract Castle for future generations to enjoy and by funding this phase of the work we hope to demonstrate our vision for the rest of the site.

“We are delighted to be working with both English Heritage and WREN on this important project.”

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants to community, environmental and heritage projects from funds donated by Waste Recycling Group to the Landfill Communities Fund.

The managing director of WREN, Peter Cox, said “We’re delighted to support Wakefield Council and their valuable work.”