Pontefract Castle
West Yorkshire, England (2 castles)
Motte & Bailey / Stone
Small amount survives
Only open at certain times
Pontefract Castle became the property of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster due to his marriage to Alice de Lacy, the daughter of Henry de Lacy. This was at the time when King Edward II was opposed by the barons because of the his obsession with his favourite Piers Gaveston. In 1312 Gaveston was executed by the barons and Lancaster soon afterwards effectively ruled England. At the Battle of Boroughbridge Lancaster was defeated and captured by Edward's army and taken back to Pontefract Castle and executed outside its walls. In 1362, John of Gaunt the son of King Edward III became the Earl of Lancaster due to his marriage a few years earlier to Blanche of Lancaster and became the owner of Pontefract Castle. In 1400 Pontefract Castle was the prison for King Richard II and is thought to be where he was murdered. In 1536, during the reign of King Henry VIII, the castle became the base for an uprising known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. The rebels were unhappy with the King's religious interference.
The castle's final important moment in history came during English Civil wars when it was captured by Parliamentarian troops and orders were given to destroy it.
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Timeline
1311
...
The marriage of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster to Alice de Lacy, the heiress of the of the powerful Henry de Lacy, gave the Earl even more titles and properties. One of these properties was Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire.
1321
May 24
Thomas, Earl of Lancester held the first of two meetings to gather support of Barons and the clergy to remove the Despensers from power. The second meeting at Sherborn-in-Elmet near York was held on June 28th. [1]
1322
Quarter 1
Edward advanced up the Severn Valley and crossed the river at Shrewsbury. Several of the Marcher Lords surrendered to the King without a fight. Lancaster had moved to his base at Pontefract. The King took time to take control the castles belonging to the Marcher Lords. [1]
March 16
Lancaster left his base at Pontract and headed north. At the bridge crossing the river Ure at Boroughbridge he was halted by an army led by Andrew Harcley, the Earl of Carlisle. Harcley held the bridge against Lancaster's attacks and Lancaster was forced to surrender. Lancaster was taken back to Pontefract Castle where Edward had taken control.
March 22
Edward finally had his revenge for the death of Gaveston when Thomas, the Earl of Lancaster, was executed outside the walls of Pontefract Castle. [1]
1399
August
Richard returned to England landing in Wales where he became a fugitive. He was captured at Conwy Castle and at a meeting with Bolingbroke at Flint Castle agreed to surrender himself and the throne of England. Richard was transferred to Pontefract Castle where he was imprisoned. [2]
1400
February
King Richard II died some time between the 9th and 17th of February 1400 while being imprisoned at Pontefract Castle. The cause of his death is not known. He died at the age of 33. [3]
1483
June 25
To secure his position, Richard Duke of Gloucester had several members of Elizabeth Woodville's family arrested, including Anthony Woodville, her brother and Richard Grey, a son from her previous marriage to Sir John Grey. Both were taken to Pontefract Castle where they were executed.
1536
October 21
A large rebellion began in north in Yorkshire following those in Lincolnshire. Known as The Pilgrimage of Grace this rebellion again protested against the unpopular policies and advisers of King Henry VIII. They wanted Henry to put a stop to the dissolution of the monasteries and the removal of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer and Henry's adviser Thomas Cromwell. The leader of the rebellion was Robert Aske, a lawyer and excellent organiser. Somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000 rebels were involved and they took control of Pontefract Castle which fell to them without any resistance.
December
At Pontefract the rebel leaders presented a list of demands. The rebels were assured of free pardons.
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