Pontefract Castle: The Place of Kings’ Deaths

“Bloody Pomfret”—Shakespeare’s name for Pontefract Castle—barely captures the horror of this place. Two kings met their end within its walls (one certainly murdered), and countless nobles were executed, imprisoned, or starved during its long and violent history. The castle is now a ruin, deliberately destroyed after the Civil War, but its ghosts remain.

The History

Norman Origins

The castle was built by Ilbert de Lacy after the Norman Conquest and quickly became one of the strongest fortresses in the North.

The Murder of Richard II

In 1399, the deposed King Richard II was imprisoned at Pontefract. He died there in February 1400—probably murdered, possibly by starvation, on the orders of his cousin Henry IV. His ghost was said to walk the castle within months of his death.

Thomas of Lancaster

In 1322, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, was executed at Pontefract after leading a failed rebellion against Edward II. His execution was botched, requiring multiple blows.

The Civil War

Pontefract endured three sieges during the Civil War (1644, 1645, and 1648-1649). The final siege lasted nearly a year, the garrison holding out even after Charles I’s execution. Parliament ordered the castle demolished—a destruction so thorough that little remains.

The Hauntings

Richard II

The murdered king is Pontefract’s most famous ghost:

• A regal figure in late medieval dress
• Wasted and thin (if starved to death)
• Walking the ruins of the castle
• A sense of injustice and tragedy
• His appearances often presage significant events

Thomas of Lancaster

The executed earl returns:

• A bloody figure with neck wounds
• Accompanied by the sound of axe blows
• Seen near the site of his execution
• His cult as a quasi-saint may strengthen his spiritual presence

The Queen’s Tower Ghosts

The Queen’s Tower, where noble prisoners were held, is particularly active:

• Multiple figures in medieval and Tudor dress
• Chains rattling
• Crying and praying
• The despair of those awaiting execution

The Civil War Dead

The three sieges left many casualties:

• Soldiers in 17th-century dress
• Battle sounds and cannon fire
• The starvation of the final siege echoes through time
• Bodies being carried or buried
• A Royalist garrison that never truly surrendered

The Monk of Pontefract

A monk from the medieval priory that stood nearby:

• Seen walking through the ruins
• Praying for the dead
• A peaceful contrast to the violent ghosts
• He may be trying to bring peace to the troubled spirits

Modern Activity

The castle ruins are managed by Wakefield Council:

• Ghost hunts are regularly conducted
• EVP recordings have captured medieval English
• Photographs show shadowy figures
• Visitors report overwhelming sadness and dread
• The Queen’s Tower and dungeon areas are most active

Visiting

Pontefract Castle is free to visit and offers tours and events. The Liquorice Festival celebrates the town’s famous confection, but the castle itself offers darker memories.

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“Bloody Pomfret” earned its name through centuries of royal murder, noble execution, and siege warfare. Richard II still walks here, murdered but not forgotten. The castle may be ruined, but its ghosts are very much alive.