From the Pontefract & Castleford Express, 19th February 2009

 

'Eccentric' plan to rebuild castle

 

An "eccentric" idea to build a new castle in Pontefract has been exclusively revealed to the Express. Wakefield Council leader Peter Box and local historian Brian Lewis, who have created the plan and will present it at a public meeting in the town next week, say the ambitious project would:

* Boost tourism.

* Create new jobs and teach historical skills.

* Attract investment.

* Complement other cultural attractions in the district.

* Be educational by showing how castles were built and how people lived in the past.

 

Coun. Box said: "It is an eccentric idea but when you look past the eccentricity there is a lot of merit on a lot of different levels – socially, economically, culturally. We came up with it because we are both interested in archaeology and the past, but from a very commercial point of view it would be a huge economic benefit to Pontefract and the district. I just see it as part of our heritage and a wonderful project, it's something that will get people interested and excited. I am 100 per cent confident if we can get this off the ground, people will come from all over the world. It's one of those mad ideas that could work."

 

Coun. Box said he mooted the idea of rebuilding the Pontefract Castle ruins at a public meeting about six years ago.

 

Mr. Lewis said: "We know that is impractical because there is too much archaeology, we couldn't get permission to build on the ruins. About 95 per cent of the archaeology there has not been excavated. We see this new building as complementary to the ruins, it will give another focus to heritage in the district."

 

The pair say the castle project would take at least 50 years and grow in phases – starting with a timber structure. They hope its location would be visible from the motorway but say it is too early to estimate costs.

 

Coun. Box said: "The reason it will take so long is it can't be cheap and nasty, it has got to be high quality or visitors won't stay long. It doesn't need to be complete to be a tourist attraction; people would visit to see how it is being built. If you could see it from the motorway people would drive off to visit – imagine the impact this castle would have. The one inhibiting factor is cost. In one sense it is a good time to do it, it is an investment for the future. We might be eccentric but we are not naive enough to think there won't be major cost implications. But I do think if agencies in regeneration and heritage can be persuaded then some of the funding would be forthcoming."

 

Mr. Lewis added: "Roads across the country come through this area – there couldn't be a better location for a new castle. Another thing we are both concerned with is developing skills. This is an area where we have ex-miners so there are people with experience of digging or building who could work on the project. Everything seems to be saying that this is the right time to do it as long as we keep the 50-year plan in mind."

 

A public meeting to gauge community interest in the castle plan takes place in Pontefract Town Hall on Monday at 7pm.

 

Coun. Box, who represents Altofts and Whitwood, added: “This is not something I am doing as council leader; it has not been through the council. I don’t want it to be initially a council project, it has got to be a community project so what we want to do is see if people are interested. We do need the public backing; we want support from the community. The reason nobody has been approached is because we don’t want to present it as a fait accompli. If the idea is dismissed as unworkable we go away and think. I’m not saying the council won’t be involved at some stage but this is not a council project.”

Eccentric indeed. Barmy I'd say. Although there is a French castle site (can't remember actual name without looking) where they are rebuilding a castle from motte & bailey to stone over a very long period as a brilliant 'living archaeology' project and tourist attraction the good people of Pontefract won't go for this.

 

You can't but admire the enthusiasm of the councillor for trying to get some life back into the area after the decline of the traditional (mining) industries of recent decades though. Pontefract castle is a very interesting place although much ruined after the total slighting after the English Civil War of the 17th century and not an obvious tourist attraction as it appears today. The surrounding area has good remains of medieval settlement, and especially civil war activity including siege works and trenches still evident. Very close to the castle are remains of a medieval parish church left as it was, reduced to a shell in a siege in the 1640's. Foundations of an Anglo Saxon church are nearby too. Slightly further away is the site of a priory, now beneath the turf but there nevertheless and close the the castle. The whole makes a fascinating medieval landscape including the old town of Pontefract itself on the other side of the castle ruins.

 

The trouble is you need to apply a great deal of imagination to see how it once was. The town and castle in particular was one of the great medieval sites in England has still to this day has much of interest. It is however largely hidden in a rather neglected corner of Yorkshire, now slowly emerging from industrial change. It needs help to bring it out of the decline it has suffered of late but rebuilding the castle. . . . . . .?

 

Peter

 

From the Pontefract & Castleford Express, 19th February 2009

 

'Eccentric' plan to rebuild castle

 

An "eccentric" idea to build a new castle in Pontefract has been exclusively revealed to the Express. Wakefield Council leader Peter Box and local historian Brian Lewis, who have created the plan and will present it at a public meeting in the town next week, say the ambitious project would:

* Boost tourism.

* Create new jobs and teach historical skills.

* Attract investment.

* Complement other cultural attractions in the district.

* Be educational by showing how castles were built and how people lived in the past.

 

Coun. Box said: "It is an eccentric idea but when you look past the eccentricity there is a lot of merit on a lot of different levels – socially, economically, culturally. We came up with it because we are both interested in archaeology and the past, but from a very commercial point of view it would be a huge economic benefit to Pontefract and the district. I just see it as part of our heritage and a wonderful project, it's something that will get people interested and excited. I am 100 per cent confident if we can get this off the ground, people will come from all over the world. It's one of those mad ideas that could work."

 

Coun. Box said he mooted the idea of rebuilding the Pontefract Castle ruins at a public meeting about six years ago.

 

Mr. Lewis said: "We know that is impractical because there is too much archaeology, we couldn't get permission to build on the ruins. About 95 per cent of the archaeology there has not been excavated. We see this new building as complementary to the ruins, it will give another focus to heritage in the district."

 

The pair say the castle project would take at least 50 years and grow in phases – starting with a timber structure. They hope its location would be visible from the motorway but say it is too early to estimate costs.

 

Coun. Box said: "The reason it will take so long is it can't be cheap and nasty, it has got to be high quality or visitors won't stay long. It doesn't need to be complete to be a tourist attraction; people would visit to see how it is being built. If you could see it from the motorway people would drive off to visit – imagine the impact this castle would have. The one inhibiting factor is cost. In one sense it is a good time to do it, it is an investment for the future. We might be eccentric but we are not naive enough to think there won't be major cost implications. But I do think if agencies in regeneration and heritage can be persuaded then some of the funding would be forthcoming."

 

Mr. Lewis added: "Roads across the country come through this area – there couldn't be a better location for a new castle. Another thing we are both concerned with is developing skills. This is an area where we have ex-miners so there are people with experience of digging or building who could work on the project. Everything seems to be saying that this is the right time to do it as long as we keep the 50-year plan in mind."

 

A public meeting to gauge community interest in the castle plan takes place in Pontefract Town Hall on Monday at 7pm.

 

Coun. Box, who represents Altofts and Whitwood, added: “This is not something I am doing as council leader; it has not been through the council. I don’t want it to be initially a council project, it has got to be a community project so what we want to do is see if people are interested. We do need the public backing; we want support from the community. The reason nobody has been approached is because we don’t want to present it as a fait accompli. If the idea is dismissed as unworkable we go away and think. I’m not saying the council won’t be involved at some stage but this is not a council project.”

Out of curiosity what part of re-building or even building a new castle do you consider

Eccentric indeed. Barmy

?

I agree with Peter, and the concept of it being barmy has to be looked at in context. There are ways of enhancing a site to bring in tourists without attempting to rebuild what has been lost. The attraction of castles over here is quite different to that in your neck of the woods Ralph. People want to visit a historical site to see and understand what is there. The state of the building is part of the history, and displays etc illustrating how it was and what happened can be as much of a stimulus to the imagination as the ruin itself. What they need to do is attract people in by showing that it's more than just a pile of old stones, and a rebuild will to some extent detract from the history of the site.

Whatever they do, the rebuild is only going to be a representation of someone elses imagination (albeit well researched) and how they think it should have been. Restoration of a more complete building is a different matter, because (as in the case at Stirling) the bulk of the fabric is there. In the case of a ruined castle, it is the ability to imagine and interpret that attracts the bulk of visitors, and a project such as this will to some extent mask that stimulus. I say build a modern visitor centre just at the edge of the site, with video displays, models and educational presentations etc, have re-enactments and visitor involvement, all centred around the castle. Don't deface the site itself.

How many tourist visitors does Inverness Castle get? The town gets plenty, and no doubt they have a glance up at the 'castle' or even take a picture or two. But the medieval castle has gone, and what is there now is basically the relatively modern local court. No one goes there voluntarily, attractive building as it is. There is no attraction there for those seeking medieval castles and no physical link to the towns medieval past.

That is certainly a view point.

I understand H.S. and E.H. is smack in the middle of legal proceedings over this topic.

 

yup I'm aware of the differences between here and there, as I should be all things considered that is.

 

Inverness houses the Sheriff's Court and cannot be seen as a visitor. All though I did find your reference to the castle that was rebuilt in the 1800's interesting and I understand why you brought it up.

But, isn't it rather unique as far as castle building or revitalization goes in so far as its modern use after being rebuilt?

 

In context, castles all over the world are being re-built and many of them are touristy attractions instead of being owned by individuals. Several EU country's are seeing a large economy revitalization because apparently people do want to visit a complete castle.

My view point, there is much to be said of visiting a ruin, but as much or more can be said of a complete castle that has been rebuilt with in depth historical investigation.

 

note just for the record: I am not in reference to a Ren-fair building or disney land make beleave

Yes, there are a lot of castles being rebuilt to their original state from ruin, particularly scottish tower houses as family homes once again, or even as offices and for other uses, and to these I have no objection, since in the case of these smaller properties the alternative is to lose them as gradual decay and nature take hold. However, Pontefract is a different case, having had a role in national events and as a former Royal Castle. I suspect that the 'plan' as shown in the story above, may just be the relaease of an eccentric idea with the intention to stimulate debate and gain some publicity, and possibly even attract benefactors to the project. Below is a link to what seems to be a much more sensible approach drafted by the local authority in 2006, it would be good if we knew more detail on how this plan had progressed, if indeed it did. The draft plan below gives a good insight into the problems with this particular castle, and why action is needed, and was probably developed from the document posted by Andrew earlier.

 

Draft Plan 2006

 

Not the first contentious idea .....and approved!

An old postcard of Pontefract Castle, purchased yesterday.

From the BBC Website, 1st May 2010

 

Funding boost for Pontefract Castle conservation work

 

Conservation work on a West Yorkshire Castle has been given a funding boost of £27,000. The grant from English Heritage will go towards the first phase of development work at Pontefract Castle, which has been in ruins since 1649.

 

Wakefield Council has already earmarked £280,000 to spend on plans to preserve the castle as a key tourist attraction. Deputy council leader Denise Jeffery said the 11th Century castle was an important asset for the district.

 

Dr Simon Thurlen, chief executive of English Heritage, said: "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 people of Pontefract and in its reputation and offer."

Andrew have you some sort of diagram of where this castle is located?

Post #3 on page one of this topic shows the plan of the castle, but I will try and give you an idea as to where it is located within Britain.