COMMUNITY / BUSINESS / CULTURE Free Photo by CherylPhoto by Gilbert ISSUE 18 | SEPTEMBER 2020 WWW.POMFRETIAN.CO.UK • 01977 600800 Pomfret Lodge, 2 Slutwell Lane, Pontefract. WF8 1SL www.kipmcgrath.co.uk/pontefract COMMUNITY Issue #18 – September 2020

Next magazine copydate: Community News 4 18th September 2020 Next magazine published: Orange and Liquorice Ice Cream 6 30th September 2020

Submissions Gardening with Ben 8 If you would like to contribute to the Pomfretian please call 07936 860 215 St Mary’s Community Hub 10 or email [email protected]. We’re always delighted to hear from writers, photographers and anyone HISTORY & HERITAGE involved in a local group or activity. Advertise 12 For more information on how to advertise visit www.pomfretian.co.uk, email [email protected] or call Pontefract 1086 and 1986 14 07936 860 215. Pontefract People 16 Disclaimer Pomfretian is produced and published by Love Local Ltd. EVENTS & CULTURE The opinions expressed within the magazine are of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the Pomfretian. While every effort has Heritage Open Days 18 been made to ensure the accuracy of content, we accept no liability in respect of the content of any article, event, photo or advertisement. ©Love Local Ltd. All rights reserved. No reproduction or copying without permission.

WWW.POMFRETIAN.CO.UK 3 We love to hear from groups, organisations and individuals about Community what’s happening locally. Include a photo if you can. Email your stories to News [email protected]

Pontefract Castle receives Bike and Skate TripAdvisor award Hub Plans for Pontefract Pontefract Castle has been awarded a prestigious “Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best 2020” award by A committee has been formed by local Tripadvisor. residents to drive forward the creation of a The award is given based on positive reviews, ratings bike and skate hub in Pontefract. and saves on the popular Tripadvisor website, and it The committee, which is being led by places Pontefract Castle in the top 10 percent of visitor local business owner Chris Pennock, would attractions worldwide. like to see the development of a skate park Work was completed on the £5million National and bike trails at Pontefract park, along with Lottery Heritage-funded “Key to the North” project new planting, walks and a picnic area. last year, with the castle now boasting new paths The committee have been undertaking and walkways, access to areas of the castle not seen research into similar facilities across the for centuries, as well as brand-new family-friendly district and believe that funding could come interpretation boards and a custom-designed children’s from a variety of sources, including public playground. funding and help from the council. Along with the reopening of the castle’s Liquorice A feasibility study is to be undertaken by Café, all of this offers a significantly improved visitor council officers to identify suitable locations experience. and consult with local young people. You can find out more information about Pontefract A Facebook page, which can be found Castle and plan your visit at at bit.ly/bikeandskatehub, has been www.pontefractcastle.co.uk created by the Pontefract Bike and Skate To see Pontefract Castle’s TripAdvisor profile, visit Hub committee to generate support and bit.ly/PCTripadvisor communicate progress on the project.

4 COMMUNITY Straighter teeth without fixed braces

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Pontefract Dental Care 18 Beastfair, Pontefract WF8 1AW Orange and Liquorice Ice Cream Liquorice and orange flavours blend beautifully in this recipe using our very own Pontefract Cakes. Enjoy on its own, with fruit crumble or baked apples.

METHOD 1. Place the chopped Pontefract Cakes into a pan with 200ml water. Bring to the boil and simmer gently, stirring for approx 15 mins until it reaches a syrup consistency (don’t worry if the liquorice doesn’t dissolve completely). Turn off the heat and leave in the pan. 2. Into a separate pan place the milk, cream, vanilla and orange zest and heat to just below boiling, then set aside to allow the flavours to infuse. 3. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar and then add the infused cream mixture. Return the mixture to the pan and stir continuously over a gentle heat until the custard mixture has thickened. Pour onto the melted liquorice syrup and stir. Strain through a sieve into a jug and cover the surface of the mixture with INGREDIENTS clingfilm or baking paper to stop a skin 100g Pontefract Cakes chopped into small forming whilst it cools. Chill the mixture pieces in fridge. 200ml whole milk 4. Once chilled pour into a freezable container and freeze for an hour, until the 300ml double cream sides start to set. Using a fork thoroughly Zest of 1 orange, grated finely stir and leave to freeze for approx another hour then repeat the stirring at 1/2 a vanilla pod or essence to taste hourly intervals until it is a soft-set then 4 large egg yolks leave to freeze solid. 50g caster sugar 5. Serve slightly softened and enjoy!

6 BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Young Minds Matter

oung Minds Matter believe that delivered for them lesson by lesson, at a time education is the key that opens up convenient to their family’s schedule. They also opportunities. It’s with this ethos in offer extra curricula learning experiences and mindY that Katharine and Maggi established will be hosting a Cookery Club every other the Ropergate based business, which will be Saturday from mid-September. celebrating its third anniversary this October. Young Minds Matter are an ASDAN and Katharine, who had previously held roles Ofsted registered centre which recognises including Deputy Head Teacher and Advanced that each child is an individual and may need Skills Teacher, had already been planning specific support; whether this is through on starting her own education enterprise confidence boosting, stretching the more able when she met Maggi, who had previously or allowing students to spend more time on trained as a nurse, owned daycare businesses a concept they may find difficult. They deliver overseas and was already supporting private tailored, personalised learning in a friendly students. With a complimentary skillset, a and supportive environment, which develops shared passion for learning and a belief that all confidence and enables children and young children deserve the best education possible, people to fulfil their potential, whatever their they identified a need to offer an alternative ability or barriers to learning. Maggi is also kind of education to a growing number of a qualified Orton Gillingham Therapeutic students needing additional support. Due to Tutor, one of only a handful of such qualified the popularity of after school tutoring, they tutors in the north of England, who specialises have now expanded into day time provision in teaching students with specific reading for home-educated students and those difficulties such as dyslexia. needing an alternative to, or timeout from, In resonse to the public health crisis and, main stream provision. due to the effect this has had on education By providing personalised one-to-one provision, Young Minds Matter are now also learning and small peer-to-peer learning offering booster and catch-up classes. They groups, based on need rather than age are able to provide support for all subjects, for and academic year group, the pair have set children aged from 4 up to A level, as well as themselves apart from other tutoring services. adult students and accept all major childcare Covering all subjects, sessions are taught voucher schemes, including Busy Bees. based on good practice by qualified staff To find out more, visit www.study-centre. and specialists in their field, with each child co.uk or call 01977 703702. having their own programme written and

ADVERTORIAL 7 JOBS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER In the Vegetable Garden: • Place your pumpkin plants on a piece of wood or slate. This will stop the bottoms from rotting. You can also remove any leaves which cover the fruit as this will slow down the ripening. • Keep picking your runner beans and French beans as soon as they are ready – this way they will still keep producing crops. You can also keep feeding them often. • Dig up your main crops of potatoes this month. Make sure you get them all out even the tiny ones or you will still keep getting plants there year on year. • Don’t pull your bean or runner bean plants out of the ground when they have done. Just Gardening cut them off at the base, this way they let the nitrogen back into the soil. with Ben In the Flower Garden: • Start looking around at Spring Bulbs and plant y up The Yorkshire Gardener – nope, your daffodils, crocus and hyacinths. actually you will have noticed the name • Prune your climbing roses this month once they change to Gardening with Ben! I’ve recently have fi nished fl owering. Erebranded as someone else was using the same • Keep deadheading your plants this will name on social media. encourage more fl owers to keep coming. • Don’t let your hanging baskets die back yet if Well, August has been an extremely busy you keep feeding them and pinching off the old month and quite a wet month also. Currently, fl owers that have died they should last until the on my plot, I am designing a new area which fi rst frost. will have a composting area, seating area, fl ower • If you keep your rhododendrons watered well at patch and a herb garden. You can check out the this time of year they will produce fantastic buds progress on my Facebook or Instagram. for next year. In September, we will be busy picking a lot In the Fruit Garden: of our produce which will be nearing the end; • Clear down all your strawberry plants and tidy Sweetcorn, Apples, Pears. I will also be looking at them up. Remove any straw that you may have what spring bulbs I will be planting as September round them. Pot up all the runners or plant is a great time to buy them and plant them. Try them straight into the ground for extra new and go for the most unusual ones if possible – plants next year. • If there is any rotting fruit on your trees remove the bees will love you for planting the bulbs. it as this spreads diseases. Find out what seeds can be planted this month • Prune back your summer raspberries. Only in your garden and greenhouse by checking out prune back the canes that have had fruit on my website in the link below. We share lots of them don’t prune back the ones that are new tips and advice on our social media channels as this year they will fruit next year. well – so make sure you give them a follow and • Apples will start to be ready this month. To know they are ready just put it into your palm say hello. and it should come away easy – you should not Facebook/Instagram: Gardening with Ben have to tug it. Website: www.gardenandallotment.com

8 COMMUNITY More than an education...

9 St Mary’s Community Hub by Denise Pallett, Project Development Manager

t Mary’s Community Centre, based in Although we had no experience of working Chequerfield, Pontefract was called upon, as a food bank, we soon pulled together an at the very beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, impressive army of volunteers and co-ordinated Sto support the people of Pontefract through an emergency food supply and delivery service this emergency period. In collaboration with for Pontefract. Since we started with a donation Wakefield Council and Nova Wakefield, we of food stock from Pontefract FoodBank, an formed a Community Hub to act as a first point enormous amount of food has been donated of contact for help and assistance throughout the by supermarkets, local businesses and generous pandemic. individuals. We have also been successful in We appealed for volunteers via the Volunteer accessing various funding pots to supplement Wakefield website and have been delighted to these donations, which has meant we have been receive over sixty applications to support our able to buy and deliver food supplies where community crisis response. needed, to around seven hundred Pontefract Due to restrictions placed on its volunteers residents at present. during the pandemic, Pontefract FoodBank had Many similar hubs have also been formed in to close its doors in March 2020. With support other local areas, including Ackworth, , and guidance from Cllr. David Jones, St Mary’s Kinsley & Fitzwilliam, Havercroft & Ryhill, Community Hub were more than happy to Normanton and , all supported by step in and temporarily replace this invaluable volunteers willing to offer their skills to provide provision. a much-needed local response to the crisis. We

10 COMMUNITY have worked together in a cooperative way and shared our resources through this network – You need pasta? Take some of ours! Can you help us with some tinned tuna? I know someone who can … This is local and outlying community at its very best. And we hope to nurture these newly forged links long beyond these difficult times We are immensely grateful to all our volunteers for providing their services to help with: • Food parcel organisation and home deliveries • Food shopping service BESPOKE FITTED • Prescription collection KITCHENS & BEDROOMS • Dog walking WE BELIEVE THAT YOUR KITCHEN IS THE • Telephone befriending HEART OF YOUR HOME, REFLECTING BOTH • Organising and delivering children’s book YOUR LIFESTYLE & IDENTITY. THAT’S WHY and treat bags WE ARE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY … and much more. TO TURN YOUR VISION INTO A REALITY. We have received many kind donations from members of the public wishing to support 01977 602001 160 Southgate, Pontefract, WF8 1QT our Hub including food, toiletries, monetary www.inline-kitchens.co.uk donations, hand-sewn face masks, books, all greatly appreciated. So many of the hundreds of people who have got in touch with St Mary’s Hub have told us how grateful they are to be able to speak to a friendly person who will make sure they get the help they need. It has been a privilege to meet so many kind and caring people who have been so generous with their resources, skills and time. Some of 1919 2019 them live on our doorstep while some further Established in 1919, we afield. In a time which has been unbelievably are your local, family run, challenging for everyone, St Mary’s have been so happy to help wherever possible, but would have independent opticians. been unable to do so without our wonderful Our opticians take their time over volunteers and supporters who have helped the every eye examination ensuring that Hub in so many ways. Each and every one of every test is performed to the highest these volunteers and supporters should be very possible standard. proud of their involvement at this unprecedented time in our lives and to know that they have “Friendly, P s al & Professi al” made such a difference. www.moorhouseopticians.co.uk St Mary’s Hub are very proud to be supporting our community alongside many other Pomfretians! 01977 703 307 51 Ropergate, Pontefract, WF8 1JY

COMMUNITY 11 Illustration by Sandy Fryer by Illustration Pontefract Castle By Sandy Fryer

This castle was large and the last castle to surrender To the Parliamentarians at the end of the civil war Oliver Cromwell said ‘It had strong towers and the walls Were thick and high’ that was the score

Our history tells us of blood and gore Of broken families in derision wanting more Where jealousy, hate and selfish ambition Were at the demise of Pontefract Castle

Nothing has changed from before the middle ages From fighting and pillage, killing and rampage Men still war over one thing and another Fighting against friend, fighting against brother

In Victorian times liquorice was grown there and stored Because the liquorice roots needed that depth of soil This was just a blast from the past If only we could heal the history with elastoplast

But if that was so, hey Then perhaps the castle would stand today

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[email protected] 07936 860 215 www.pomfretian.co.uk/advertise *With advertising terms of 3 or more issues The first picture of the Saxon church. After dark from the upstairs bedroom of a derelict house.

Pontefract 1086 and 1986 By Eric Houlder

y the year 1086, William I had been king of located, whilst the Fishery was still evident England for twenty years. However, in that to Richard Holmes in the 1870s along the time he had only seen certain parts of the Washbeck at the base of Baghill. It was assumed Bcountry, mainly the troublesome regions like the that the church mentioned was the ancestor of North and the West. Over Christmas of 1085, All Saints, though nothing survived of that period he came up with an idea: a national survey that in the structure. would, when assembled, give him an idea of his This was the state of play when the re- kingdom’s settlements, and more importantly, its development of the area around Tanner’s Row, taxing potential. Commissioners were sent out North Baileygate, The Booths and Beech Hill to every town, village and hamlet with a series of was proposed in early 1985. Even then it was questions designed to elicit answers. The rigour surmised that the area might contain evidence of the questioning was popularly likened to the of the earliest settlement, so an excavation was interrogation and punishment to be expected at proposed, and PontArc was contacted. At that the Last Judgement, with no appeals, hence the date the society had organised several successful nickname Domesday. digs, including the definitive work on the Roman Often, the earliest record of a town is the Road 28b at Thorpe Audlin, but it was also entry in Domesday Book, the final assembly evident that a full time director would be needed of the replies into two bound volumes. In the for a project of this scale. ’s case of our town, it had been mentioned in archaeology service was brought in and they sent documents before 1086, but the entry provided the young Tony Wilmott, then at the beginning of later historians with a handy resumé. In our case, a career which would culminate with him being it posed more questions than answers, though Senior Archaeologist at English Heritage. Tony two of the three (water)mills had been previously led a team which included several experienced

14 HISTORY & HERITAGE Modern translation of Pontefract’s Domesday entry under its older name of Tateshale. Photographs © Eric Houlder Norman dwellings under excavation at the foot of The Recording and lifting an early burial in rain and sleet. Booths. A medieval smithy may be seen top left at a higher level.

PontArc members, some of whom had worked The contractors began work. At the end of on major digs like Vindolanda and Sutton Hoo. January whilst lifting setts in The Booths more Sadly, Tony’s full report, though complete is still graves were found. We were called back in. awaiting publication, though I and several PontArc Hurried ‘phone calls were made, not just to members have been priviledged to read it. Just the original team but to experienced friends below the demolished Nineteenth Century in neighbouring societies. We were given a dwellings, the Norman town’s buildings began weekend to clear the graves before the machines to appear. Then, unexpectedly, burials began to continued their work. It was whilst doing this, show below this level. Not just an occasional in appalling conditions of rain and sleet that grave, but many. The attutudes of the skeletons David Hedges, PontArc member and a veteran and their preservation condition revealed that of Vindolanda, spotted masonry and correctly this cemetery, as it clearly was, dated from early identified the east end of a Saxon church’s Christian times until perhaps the Conquest. foundations. Initially, because of the proximity of All Saints’, it This altered the whole situation. Tony was believed that the burials wereoutliers of a disappeared to telephone his boss, who churchyard which surrounded the predecessor of contacted the County Council. Work on the that church. This was the situation when our dig site was immediately halted, and the County finished on New Year’s Day 1986. Archaeology unit was called in for a full time excavation.

HISTORYLOCAL & HISTORY HERITAGE 15 Pontefract People Test your knowledge of Pontefract’s most celebrated sons and daughters with this Pontefract People quiz.

1. A printing dynasty that had premises in 12. Three generations, all with the same Market Place and Gillygate. forename were all West Riding Bridge 2. The ‘COMPLETE HOUSE FURNISHER’ Surveyors and the grandfather built in Market Place and reputedly they had Pontefract Town Hall. the first shop in Pontefract to be lit by 13. Two of the directors of the bank that electricity (from a generator). merged with Barclays, their name plate is 3. The man that invented Pontefract cakes still on the building. and Pontefract’s links to confectionary. 14. This Colonel has a walk named after him 4. The owner of a photography business, with and his former house was demolished to a yard named after it, previously Taylor’s build Sessions House. Yard. 15. This Prime Minister officially opened the 5. A chemist of Pontefract and their name still original Market Hall on 26 October 1860. holds Court in the town centre. 16. Who is RadGurltotherescue? 6. An architect who designed the frontage 17. A printer in Market Place, he published in to the Barclay’s building and the house at 1827, ‘The History of Pontefract’. Nostell, married a Pontefract lass and had a son born in the town, bearing the same 18. This lad from South Elmsall, led the local name and was also a reputed architect. Royalist rising that led to the third siege of Pontefract Castle in 1648. 7. One of the famous brothers, who designed part of the house at Nostell and also the 19. Twenty four years an MP for Pontefract, a Red Lion façade. street bears his name and all that remains is the name plate (clue; Ropergate) 8. A Scot, from Dunfermline, who donated funds to provide Pontefract with its first 20. The man that funded the building of the ‘free’ public library, the building is now the Buttercross, in order to protect sellers of museum. dairy produce from the elements. 9. Educated in Pontefract, as an MP she 21. The son of a poor shoe maker from became Minister of Transport, introducing Halifax, he came to Pontefract as a minister the breathalyser, and whilst Secretary of and a new chapel had to be built (on State for Employment she introduced the Finkle Street) to accommodate his large Equal Pay Act 1970. congregation. He married a Pontefract lass, ran his own printers with shop and 10. She lived in Finkle Street and in 1741 published ‘The History of the Ancient published a book ‘English Housewifry’, Borough of Pontefract’ in 1807. which has been described as one of ‘the female pioneers of English culinary writing’. 11. An 18th century wig maker and humorous poet, has an alley named after one of his Answers are available to view online at works ‘Ducks and Green Pease’ (or the www.bit.ly/pontepeople. Newcastle Rider). Thanks to Philip Henfrey for compiling this quiz.

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or Heritage Open Days 2020, England’s for all ages, as well as some of our town’s history largest grass roots heritage festival involving being performed. 40,000 volunteers and 5,000 events, we Whether you have an interest in our buildings Fwill be bringing you a few socially distanced live and heritage, our conservation areas, the people events as well as loads of virtual content. The and activities that have gone in years gone by, the event runs between 11th & 20th Sept, though we town’s past commerce, liquorice, the Quakers, also have a bonus event on Zoom on 22nd Sept! Friarwood Valley Gardens or Pontefract Park, Traditionally, the festival is where places throw we’re sure there will be something for everyone. open their doors for FREE, though a blended Remember to check out our Pontefract Fact of approach between physical and virtual events is the Day, too. essential whilst Covid-19 remains an issue. We are grateful to all our hosts and Follow us on Facebook @PontefractCivic, guides, together with building owners who where all our event details will be published and unfortunately can’t open thier doors, but have our virtual events will be hosted. Bookings are shared photographs and videos with us for your required via Eventbrite to join our guided walks pleasure. We are also indebted to the continued in Pontefract and at . Places support of St Giles with St Mary’s Pantomime must be booked, and without a booking you Society, John Turner - Town Crier from Pontefract could be turned away. Also don’t forget to follow Heritage Group, and Wakefi eld Museums for us on Twitter @PontefractCivic, and Instagram photographs, together with other copyright @pontefractcivicsociety. contributors who will be noted on the relevant Virtual events will include slideshows, videos, event or activity. online exploration of our heritage, and activities

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