Pontefract Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
market town in West Yorkshire, England
About Pontefract
During the 17th-century English Civil Wars, Pontefract like much of Yorkshire supported the Royalists. They remained resolute even after the execution of Charles I, hence the town mottoPost Mortem Patris Pro Filio, Latin for "After the death of the father, support the son". Pontefract was notable for growingliquorice, inspiring a famous poem by John Betjeman. Liquorice was first used as a medicine, but 18th-century apothecary George Dunhill noticed that the more sugar he added, the more he sold, so his throat lozenges morphed into Pontefract Cakes. What was now a confectionery business thrived, becoming part of Haribo in the 20th century, and a sweet smell often pervades the town. But local liquorice couldn't compete with imports from Turkey so the fields were grubbed out in the 1960s; the
Top Attractions in Pontefract
Explore the best things to see and do in Pontefract:
- ★Pontefract Castle
- ★Pontefract Hermitage
- ★Pontefract Museum
- ★Pontefract Racecourse
- ★Xscape Yorkshire
Where to Eat in Pontefract
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Mamma Mia
Where to Stay in Pontefract
- 🏨Kings Croft Hotel
- 🏨Premier Inn Pontefract North
Pontefract Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: