COMMUNITY / BUSINESS / CULTURE

Free Photo by Michael HirstPhoto by ISSUE 12 | FEBRUARY 2020 WWW.POMFRETIAN.CO.UK • 01977 600800 Pomfret Lodge, 2 Slutwell Lane, Pontefract. WF8 1SL www.kipmcgrath.co.uk/pontefract COMMUNITY

Community News 4 The Snow Queen 6 Pontefract Lioness Club and 8 & Pontefract Issue #12 – February 2020 District Lions Club 5000 copies printed Next magazine copydate: Friends of Friarwood Valley 10 14th February 2020 Gardens Next magazine published: 28th February 2020 Yorkshire Roses WI 12 Submissions If you would like to contribute to the Castleford Heritage Trust 14 Pomfretian please call 07936 860 215 or email [email protected]. Fairburn Singers 15 We’re always delighted to hear from writers, photographers and anyone involved in a local group or activity. Pontefract Street Kitchen 16 Advertise The Royal British Legion: 17 For more information on how to advertise visit www.pomfretian.co.uk, Poppies and Remembrance email [email protected] or call 07936 860 215.

HISTORY & HERITAGE Disclaimer Pomfretian is produced and published by Love Local Ltd. Pontefract Mills 18 The opinions expressed within the Part Two: Bondgate Mill magazine are of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the Pomfretian. While every effort has The Normanton, Castleford 20 been made to ensure the accuracy and Pontefract Tramway of content, we accept no liability in respect of the content of any article, event, photo or advertisement. EVENTS & CULTURE ©Love Local Ltd. All rights reserved. No reproduction or copying without permission. What’s On? 22

WWW.POMFRETIAN.CO.UK 3 Community News

Exciting New Baby And Pontefract Children’s Hospice Shop Set Freemasons Secure To Open! Funding For School

Treat your little prince or princess at a fraction of Freemasons from Pontefract the cost of the major retailers at The Prince of Wales Lodge have successfully secured a grant Hospice’s brand new shop, Little Kingdom. for £4000, which was presented to Mrs Little Kingdom, located on Ropergate in Pontefract is Cuddy and children of Kirk Smeaton C of E the Hospice’s 13th charity shop and will officially open Primary School on Friday 10th January. its doors on Tuesday 4th February. The shop specialises The idea, which was initiated by the late in pre-loved baby and children’s clothing, toys and baby WBro Ken Palmer and whose grand daughter attends the school, will partly equipment at discounted prices. With everything from fund a canopy for the playground to create cots, prams and clothing to toys for every age range, it an outdoor space for learning and social has everything you need to kit out your little ones. activity. Natasha Morosini, Retail Officer at the Hospice, said; The Worshipful Master, Andy Weston said: “We’re really excited about the launch of Little Kingdom, “We are delighted to have been able to and can’t wait to welcome shoppers through the door. This support the children of Kirk Smeaton C of E is our first shop of its kind stocking everything from bump, Primary School by presenting this cheque and baby and beyond. Every penny raised is helping us to care have no doubt that the installation of a new for people with life-limiting illnesses.” playground canopy will have a huge impact on their enjoyment and use of this space. I am Pre-loved baby and children’s items to donate? Please sure that WBro Ken Palmer would also have drop them into the Hospice reception or any of the been delighted and feel this is a fitting way to Hospice shops, Including Little Kingdom. Find your honour his memory.” nearest shop at www.pwh.org.uk/shops.

4 COMMUNITY We love to hear from groups, organisations and individuals about what’s happening locally. Include a photo if you can. Email your stories to [email protected]

JWS Landscaping & Paving Ltd is a family run business covering all areas of fencing, turfi ng, decking, block paving, retaining walls, fl agging patios, jet washing & sealing of drives & patios, drop kerbs & crossings, artifi c grass and decorative gravel. We are City & Guilds and CITB accredited.

www.jwslandscapesandpavingltd.co.uk Have Your Say On The [email protected] 01302355871 / 07879060204 Future Of Pontefract

Ambitious plans are being formulated to shape the future of Pontefract and Council is now asking members of the public to take part in a consultation on the initial Masterplanning work that has been completed and to share their views. The emerging plans – which will ultimately form the Pontefract Masterplan, entitled ‘Reconnecting Pontefract’ – will seek to address the loss of key links between Pontefract town centre, the surrounding communities and key local assets. It will also identify other areas for improvement in the town. The initial Masterplan findings, together with two design options for changes on Horsefair and a separate set of proposals for improvements to the junction of North Baileygate and Southgate, will be available for public consultation in Pontefract Library from Saturday 8 February until Sunday 23 February 2020. Masterplan consultants, Nash Partnership, will also be hosting a launch event on 8 February from 10am until 4pm to introduce the work they are doing.

5 COMMUNITY 5 The Snow Queen Review by Carolyn Craven

he magic of Panto is alive and well and flourishing in the Yorkshire town of Pontefract. This production of The TSnow Queen written by Alan Frayn performed by the talented St Giles with St Mary’s Pantomime/ Theatre Society was community entertainment at its best. A warm welcome awaited from the moment you entered the historic town hall as into the boots of the previous Dame - the smiling, genuinely friendly members meet and great Pontefract stalwart Eric Arundell - but greet you and guide you to your seats. Vincent Empsall launched himself into the Young and old members of the audience role wholeheartedly with everybody warming with great expectations eagerly enjoyed the to the new Dame on the block. Relaxing story playing out in front of their eyes. Drawn into the role, Vincent soon struck up a great in by the sets and hit by a blaze of colours and rapport with the audience and soon started a never-ending stream of colourful costumes, to milk it convincingly. The sweet shop routine they were soon well and truly in panto land. is challenging for even the most experienced Well-chosen, well-sung songs entertained and Dames, but Vincent mastered this with slick had the audience clapping along enjoying the speed and delivery. A Dame is born! well-drilled dancing and loving the adorable Songs can make or break a show, but with Sunbeams. the MD David Hookham and his band, there With her super cool delivery and just the are no worries: the Panto is in safe hands. right touch of evilness, local girl Katy Chadwick Strong ensemble work with some delightful soon had the audience calling out to chide solo singing was a pleasure to listen to. her and concerned about global warming. The wealth of talent in this society and Contrasting beautifully, Elizabeth Sykes as the great direction by Jo Sykes ensured that all good spirit Snowdrop glides elegantly through the varied characters in the story are skilfully the battle of good and evil giving a totally portrayed with strong performances by the enchanting performance. more experienced members and confident With a very strong cast in all the character performances by the younger ones. roles, a special mention must go to some It was great to see such a wonderful mix of other young cast members; Eloise Lovell as ages, backgrounds, experience and ability all Gerda, who was super at holding all the story coming together enjoying the sheer delights together, and Katie Appleton, taking her first of Panto! Congratulations to absolutely lead role as feisty Robber Girl Frederika, who everybody involved in however small a way for, also danced with great confidence. like the icy spyglass, if one fragment is missing - It must have been no mean feat to step however tiny - then the glass is incomplete!

6 COMMUNITY Nestled in the popular town of Pontefract in , Priory Gardens is a lovely, purpose-built care home offering residential, nursing and residential memory care for those living with dementia.

Our welcoming care home offers a home-from-home where older people receive the care they need and the support they want to continue to live their life with dignity and choice.

• Comfortable day rooms • 9.6 carehome.co.uk user rating • Beauty salon • Little break – Short term care • Home from home – Long term care • Overall ‘Good’ CQC rating

To find out more information on the care that both homes can offer you, or your loved one, please visit our website or contact our Home Manager. W hc-one.co.uk T 0333 999 8603 E [email protected] A Ladybalk Lane, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 1JQ Pontefract Lioness Club and Castleford & Pontefract District Lions Club

ontefract Lioness Club and Castleford the Town Centre to Friarwood Valley Gardens, & Pontefract District Lions Club CIO which had been transformed into a fairytale 1179659 have had a very busy year in wonderland with lights lining the paths and hung P2019. Throughout the year both clubs actively in the trees. The party atmosphere was amazing raise money to give back to the local community with the Samba Band leading the parade and we have supported many groups over and Ridings FM providing entertainment in the the past 12 months including; art materials Valley Gardens. As this is such a large event we to POUCH (Parents of Unique Children), are already planning for 2020 and can confirm Emergency Hospital Packs to Pinderfields the date will be Saturday 17th October and as Hospital, Pets as Therapy, Marie Curie, Dogs for the event is free for everyone to take part in the Deaf, British Legion, Yorkshire Air Ambulance we will of course be looking for sponsors. The to name but a few. Lantern Festival is a great opportunity for local We are in attendance at many of the galas and businesses to get involved in supporting the events in our community with our popular Pick community both financially and with manpower a Bottle and Pick a Box stalls and, more recently, and in return we can offer free advertising and the Lion Tombola. promotion of your business on posters and In May 2019 we held an event to honour publicity before, during and after the event. The people in the community who had gone above Lioness Club are always keen to discuss options and beyond with PC Alan Studd and Wakefield as to how we can promote local businesses who Youth group being recipients of our Centenary support this great charity event for the local Awards. Certificates were then presented to a community. To register an interest in sponsorship further 8 individuals/groups who had inspired please contact Lantern Festival Coordinator and worked hard to improve the lives of others Lioness/Lion Karen Heywood (kareneheywood@ in the community gmail.com). The Annual Lantern Festival in October saw In December, Pontefract Lioness Club donated over 3000 people come together to parade their a flock of ducks to the charity Give a Duck which handmade lanterns from the Castle, through helps children at LGI who have been diagnosed

8 COMMUNITY with cancer. The ducks have been specially made Also in December, both Clubs supported the to include places for medical equipment to be Pontefract Community Kitchen shoe box appeal attached so they can be used to go through the and donated table decorations and favours for treatment with the children and help them to the Christmas Day lunch held for people in the better understand what will happen to them on community in need or on their own at Christmas. their visits to hospital. Both Clubs also donated boxes of presents to Our ever popular Santa’s grotto was run at St Tiny Hands Baby Bank to give out to children Giles Church for the turn on of the Christmas referred to them who would otherwise not have lights in Pontefract Town Centre and then for anything to open on Christmas Day three weekends in December at Tillys Kitchen, The Lions and Lioness Clubs are both made J32 Retail Outlet and as always, the smiles on up of volunteers who give their time freely to children’s faces was wonderful to see. help make the community a better place and we . . . and whilst the Lionesses were busy with are always looking for new members to come Santa, our fellow Lions were busy with their and join us so that we can continue to help infamous Booze Basket Raffles at Greywood Hall those in the community who need our support. and the Chequers Inn, Ledsham. A total of seven It doesn’t matter how much or how little time lucky winners each received 6 x 1litre bottles of you have to spare every little bit helps, so if you booze in time for their Christmas celebrations would like to help make a difference in your and the Lions will be making good use of the community contact Lioness/Lion Karen Heywood funds they raised by supporting the Yorkshire Air on 07774012071 or email Ambulance and other local causes in the coming [email protected] for more weeks. information.

From our three rail stations, each with free parking, you can get Monkhill to some great places across the north. For a half hourly service to Leeds with connecting services to York for example, and an hourly service to Wakefield. Northern Rail serves over 500 stations, and Grand Central’s West Riding service can take you to Wakefield, Mirfield, Grand Central has direct service to London Kings Cross and , Halifax and . Doncaster, and in the opposite direction you can visit The Hepworth in Wakefield, The Piece Hall in Halifax and The Current timetables operate until May, 2020, check National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. northernrailway.com and grandcentralrail.com for full details. You can visit some lovely places such as Harrogate, , or even the Settle-Carlisle line; there’s some good winter deals on this line for ‘bus pass holders, see WYmetro for details. By choosing the right connections, can also get to Hull, Beverley, Lincoln, Skipton, and .

Tanshelf For an hourly service to Wakefield (Westgate and Kirkgate) and Leeds.

Baghill For shopping, cultural, or historic sites in York and Sheffield, Get on board with Pontefract Civic Society! and why not connect with the hourly service from York to www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk Scarborough. Rail Problems? Tell the operator, but tell us too! Help to improve services through Pontefract using the Climate Change Agenda one of the following: We can all help by reducing car journeys and instead using public Facebook: /PontefractRail transport to visit museums, castles, theatres and arenas for Twitter: @Ponterail leisure and entertainment. Email: [email protected]

COMMUNITY 9 Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens by Colin White

riarwood Valley Gardens was one of more than 750 nominations for the Groundwork Community Awards 2019 and was Famong 30 finalists invited to attend the awards ceremony in London in November. Although we didn’t win in our category of Best Community weather permitting. Gardening dates are posted Garden or Green Space, we were proud to be in in the notice board at the Friarwood Lane the top three. Go to groundworkawards.org.uk entrance but there will always be gardening on for more detail about the award categories, the the second Saturday of the month at 1.30pm finalists and winners. (2pm after the clocks go forward).There’s also The Groundwork Community Award topped litter picking the first Sunday of each month at a great year for the Valley Gardens. We were 10.30am. successful in winning a £4,000 Tesco Bags of We are now starting to plan for our summer Help grant to fund our summer events: Liquorice 2020 events and need volunteers to help us: Festival, Yorkshire Day and Friarwood Festival. Liquorice Festival Sunday 5th July, Yorkshire Day Blessed with good weather these events were Saturday 1st August and Friarwood Festival better than ever, particularly Friarwood Festival, Saturday 22nd August. All our events are free which showcased a line-up of local musical talent entry community events and cost around £6,000 and had an attendance of over 4,000. In 2019 in total to put on. We depend on sponsorship we extended the children’s playground, paid for and donations on the day to pay for services by Pontefract councillors’ Local Capital Fund. The such as first aid, security and portaloos. We are year had started badly when one of the picnic now inviting sponsorship for Friarwood Festival as tables was destroyed by fire but we received a well as volunteers to help on the day. Sponsors generous donation towards a replacement from will be publicised on the banners, posters our local One Stop shop and, when the council’s and promotional material. For sponsorship insurance paid out, we were able to replace or to get involved in running the event email with two. Since 2013 we have installed 22 new [email protected] or message park benches and 4 picnic tables, paid for from FriarwoodFestival on Facebook. donations and council grants. 2020 is the Valley Gardens’ 70th anniversary Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens is a year and we have ambitious plans to celebrate relatively small group and we’re always looking for it. Suggestions for recording the event would volunteers. We have regular gardening sessions be welcome. Look out for a later article in the in the Rose Garden, at least twice each month, Pomfretian about the 70th commemoration.

10 COMMUNITY

Yorksire Roses Women’s Institute

orkshire Roses WI was formed in March of 2019 when we joined the 105-year old tradition of the Women’s Institute.Y Located in Carleton, we’ve come leaps and bounds in just ten months! Due to the overwhelming initial interest, we had to move our WI from a smaller venue to the Pontefract Rugby Union Football Club within a couple months of starting and by the end of 2019 had 55 registered members. Not a bad start! We have had a whirlwind of a first (almost) year with a brilliant pottery class, a lovely floral demonstration and raffle, a fantastic gin tasting party, a fun social evening, a presentation from Holme Valley Mountain Rescue and many more interesting and enjoyable meetings. We ended the year with a trip to Skipton Christmas Market and had a lovely Christmas party in which over 20 fabulous gifts were auctioned to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Additionally, throughout the year, we have raised money for the Prince of Wales Hospice (through a demonstration by During this month WIs across the UK make Michelle’s Flowers) and Holme Valley Mountain green hearts out of a variety of mediums to raise Rescue. We also collected goods each month awareness for Climate Change, and to pledge to for Pontefract Community Kitchen as well as for make changes in our everyday lives that will help young ladies affected by Period Poverty. to combat Climate Change. On one of the hottest days of last summer, Yorkshire Roses WI will be participating in the we participated in Darrington Feast & Fayre and Pontefract Community Showcase on 28th March a couple weeks later at Carleton Park School at the Town Hall, and we’ll holding a tabletop sale Fayre. We also held a bric-a-brac sale in the town near the Buttercross in Pontefract Town Centre centre which raised over £300. Yorkshire Roses on 1st May to help fund our speakers and other WI intends to continue to extend its outreach activities. into the Carleton and Pontefract areas and to We are planning a theatre trip for April and raise funds for a variety of causes. We will be in May we are hosting a fabulous VE/VJ 75th choosing our charity for 2020 at our February Anniversary Party, complete with fancy dress, meeting. games, WWII food and entertainment by the February is #showthelove month for the WI. Fixby Songbirds. In June we will host a bath

12 COMMUNITY bomb evening, which is a fun way to make a bit of a mess, have a lot of laughs and get crafty, Why struggle to get in even if you’re not a crafty person! In June, three members will be attending the National and out of the bath? Federation of WIs Annual General Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall. In August we are planning a Summer Olympics-themed meeting, complete Replaceyourbathandwalkinshowercuinshowercuinshowowercuowerc biclbiclee with games and medals. from£1800 tteded We are very proud of all we’ve accomplished price includes wall panels, tray,ay, in the past ten months and are looking forward shower, screen and tting We can replace your old bath with to a jam-packed programme for 2020. If you a modern walk in cubicle. Water proof panels means your would like to get in on the fun, the crafts, the old tiles are not disturbed. interesting topics and the trips, come visit us! We have a choice of colours. You can also help to make a difference in our VISIT OUR SHOWROOM community and the UK at large by voting on and participating in campaigns and initiatives on issues For more details visit our showroom that matter to women and to all of us! Yorkshire Roses WI meets each 2nd Monday Walkergate, Pontefract, WF8 1QS Telephone 01977 797702 of the month (except April) at the Pontefract Email: [email protected] Rugby Union Football Club (RUFC) from 7:00 www.aquarellabathrooms.co.uk p.m.-9:00 p.m. Visitor’s fee: £5.00, includes light WE CAN SUPPLY ONLY OR SUPPLY AND FIT refreshments and a raffle ticket. ADVERTISE WITH US... from just £30 per issue

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COMMUNITY 13 Castleford Heritage Trust

his first year of the new decade is an exciting one for Castleford Heritage Trust as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. TThe Trust was formed in 2000 with a mission to promote Castleford’s heritage and culture and to build a strong and successful community. concerts, plays, exhibitions, events and talks. Using the area’s natural, cultural and industrial In this our anniversary year we will also be heritage as a vehicle for regeneration, improving holding a series of special events including an educational opportunities and introducing a wide arts festival, VE Day street party and dance and variety of social and recreational activities and ‘World Book Night’ celebrations along with our events we have placed ourselves at the heart of ever popular ‘Castleford Boat Festival, ‘Heritage the town. Open Day’ and Christmas fair. Further events and Originally housed at Bridge Arts on Sagar activities will be announced throughout the year. Street, the Trust has been based at the iconic For more details see our and our Facebook page Queen’s Mill situated on the banks of the River @QueensMillCastleford or Aire, since 2013. Previously known locally as www.castlefordheritagetrust.org.uk/Events.php Allinson’s Mill and before that Castleford Mill, We also run Queen’s Mill Crafts in the bustling it is the world’s largest stone grinding flour mill, Castleford Market Hall with all profits helping with twenty pairs of stones. The site can boast fund the trust’s activities. We wouldn’t continue an unbroken milling history of some 900 years. to exist without the tireless efforts of our It is also believed that the Roman’s carried out volunteers, members and trustees together with milling near the river. Since becoming owners a dedicated staff team If you feel you would like of Queen’s Mill, we have carried out major to be involved please give us a call on refurbishment works, become an established 01977 556741. Community Anchor for the Wakefield District, We still have a lot of work to do to fully realise welcomed new businesses, re-established flour our dreams for the Mill and the community of production, hosted many community activities, Castleford and the 5 Towns, but if the next 20 events and exhibitions, and welcomed thousands years are as exciting and fulfilling as the last, we of people to the site. are sure we will get there. Whilst we are proud to celebrate our achievements of the last 20 years, the Trust’s work is just as meaningful and important now as it was at the start. Every week we run a wide variety of activities including art, crafting, cooking, walking, art appreciation, book club, archaeology, local history, ‘Knit and Natter,’ patchwork and quilting and our popular ‘Let’s Get Together’ Wednesday afternoon general social group. Throughout the year we also stage regular music

14 COMMUNITY Spacious places, a structured day The Fairburn treatment centre in Leeds for people addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, working to Singers help them find recovery and freedom from addiction. nd so we move on to a new decade C.A.P. care, who open their doors in - 2020. A brand new year and brand Wakefield each day to see 80-90 people, all new charities for us to support with in need, in some form or another, all wanting Amoney raised through our concerts. 2019 help, all with different stories to tell and all saw us support The Prince of Wales Hospice needing a friend. and a cheque for £500 was presented Three local charities which richly deserve to Becki Taylor from Fundraising, at our our support and, with the help of our Christmas Concert in Fairburn Community friends, families, patrons and audiences, we Centre. An additional £27.64 was collected shall be able to support each and every one from the audiences at our concerts and at of them in December 2020. Our grateful House. thanks go to all our supporters – THANK Cancer Research UK also received a YOU – we couldn’t do it without you! cheque for £500, but unfortunately their For more information about The representative was ill and unable to collect Fairburn Singers, visit our website at the cheque in person, although they did www.fairburnsingers.co.uk or watch The send a message of thanks to be read out. Promfetian for future concert dates. In addition to our concerts, we also entertained residents at a Care Home in Wetherby, sang carols for the switch-on of Hillam Lights and lead the carol-singing at Temple Newsam House, keeping the Tayloredcarpet Holmes and curtain specialist children busy whilst they waited to see Santa. A Busy year! 2019 saw the introduction of our Patrons’ Scheme, whereby individuals pay £20 per year (couples £30) and receive in return one free ticket each for any concert during the year, a newsletter every 6 months and a Patrons’ Badge, to wear with pride. This has WE ARE PONTEFRACT’S enabled us to increase our Charity support CURTAINS, CARPETING AND and in 2020 we shall be contributing to 3 FLOORING SPECIALISTS charities, which will each receive £500 at Visit our showroom for 3 floors of beautiful Christmas. This year’s chosen charities are: made to measure curtains, quality floor Tadcaster Volunteer Cars & Services coverings, fabulous paints and wonderful Association, which aims to tackle the wall coverings. With over 70 years combined experience, growing problem of social isolation with a we can help make your house a home. charity shop, social café, leisure interests and pastimes, talks and discussion groups and a 01977 704272 men’s shed. All this alongside a car service to 17A Front Street, Pontefract, WF8 1DA www.tayloredholmes.co.uk take people to hospital appointments, etc.

COMMUNITY 15 Pontefract Street Kitchen

he kitchen has been running just over a year and is run by a group of volunteers who set up every Sunday regardless Tof weather conditions. We serve hot food; give take away bags of food, supply toiletries, undergarments, clothing and other essentials including sleeping bags and tents. The aim of the kitchen is to support anyone who expresses a need, no questions asked! We support individuals who are homeless, living in donate equipment and items, we thank you whole temporary accommodation, sofa surfing and heartedly! anyone who is struggling! We serve young people, We serve food every Sunday on Southgate, old people and whole families! We never judge Pontefract WF8 1LN. Volunteers start we just try to show a little compassion and transporting equipment from 11am and start to understanding to our fellow human beings who set up about 11:30am. We desperately need help are having a hard time - whatever the reason. We with transport and are seeking the help of more currently serve around 70 people each Sunday. volunteers. If you have a vehicle and can spare We also run an outreach project in Airdale an hour, either to transport to site, set up, or serving around 60 people. We aim to expand transport from site from 1:30pm onward, please this to and are currently seeking get in touch! an appropriate link person to carry this project Volunteers are also needed to help cook and forward. serve food. You must have a level 2 food hygiene As a voluntary group, we have £0 income and certificate and be prepared to complete the are totally reliant on the generosity of the general relevant…very simple records required. If this public, local businesses and the group members. is something you think you can support us with If you would like to get involved we would please contact us! welcome your support! Whether you would like We hand out essentials such as toiletries and to help on a Sunday or in the background or clothing. Volunteers are needed here too so we want to hear from you if this is of interest! Feel free to look at our Facebook page for regular updates of the group’s activities. You can find us by visiting www.facebook.com/ StreetKitchenPontefract (Messenger service is available via the page) or visit our website at www.pontefractstreetkitchen.org.uk, where you can contact us by email. Thank you everyone who has supported us in the past and thankyou for all future support! We look forward to hearing from you!

16 COMMUNITY The Royal British Legion: Poppies and Remembrance by Brian Berry

019 was a year of important 75th anniversaries to recall. A time to remember the thousands of men and 2women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We were reminded that the Normandy Landings took place in June. On D-Day the allies crossed the Channel in their thousands and amount in collections in schools. Delegations from secured a beachhead at a great cost in young lives. the schools laid wreaths at the War Memorial in Meanwhile in Italy, the unfairly named “D-Day Cornmarket and in Ackworth. It is heartening that Dodgers” were fighting a bloody battle at Monte the youth of the town takes such an interest in Cassino. Victory there opened the road to Rome the events around Remembrance. The tradition and the liberation of Italy. Later in the year the of Remembrance is passed on to the next 75th anniversary of the “forgotten army’s” victory generation. at Kohima marked the defeat of the Japanese The Royal British Legion’s slogan for on the Burma – India border. The terrible, Remembrance in 2019 was “Remembering merciless fight, much of it fought hand to hand, Together,” thinking of the impact on families of is immortalised on a memorial at Kohima The leaving, absence and returning home. Whenever words of the Kohima Epitaph: “When you go home, a service man or woman is away on duty, there tell them about us and say - for your tomorrow we is a family at home waiting and worrying. They gave our today,” are recited at war memorials all deserve to be thought of and supported. over the country on Armistice Day. The forgotten The 75th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in army’s place in history is remembered. Europe) will be celebrated up and down the In the two weeks leading up to Remembrance country In May this year. VJ Day in August, will Sunday, our teams of Poppy Volunteers manned be remembered too. 75 years ago, there were stalls in the supermarkets of Pontefract and parties and dancing in the streets. The joy and Ackworth collecting for the Poppy Appeal. celebrations will be replicated in the fun and Poppies have been a symbol of Remembrance events that will take place this year all over in the U.K. since 1921, the year that the British the country, including here in Pontefract and Legion was founded. Next Year the Royal British surrounding villages. Legion will be commemorating it’s centenary and It is right that we enjoy these celebrations but the hundredth year of Poppy collections. let us always remember the sacrifices that families Army and Air Cadets made street collections up and down our land made to achieve the in Pontefract and the schools raised an amazing victory and secured our freedom in these islands.

COMMUNITY 17 Wide angle view (28mm) of the mill site and dam taken over fifty years ago. Note that the dam location is still evident in the picture, whilst the mill, and its goyts are now beneath the embankment.

Pontefract Mills Part Two: Bondgate Mill By Eric Houlder

ondgate Mill, like Monkhill Mill, is first water would return to the original channel via recorded in Domesday Book, 1086, as one the wheelpit, in the process falling and creating of three existing mills in the town. Unlike energy. Bas with Monkhill Mill, most present inhabitants It is known that the Cluniac monks of St will have passed the site as it lies under the John’s Priory owned both watermills until the embankment of the Three Arch Bridge on Reformation, after which they entered private Road. Its dam, or water reservoir, ownership. Monkhill Mill, as described last month was still evident when the writer was a child, and was still in existence in the Nineteenth century, survived into the 1970s. Some may still do so. and Bondgate Mill is shown on a map of the It is worth pointing out that the earthworks early century, though with so little detail that for any watermill were a major engineering work it could be derelict. The diarist Nathan Drake and would outlast the original building on the site. mentions Bondgate Mill dam in his record of the Thus the last building of this mill was certainly Civil War sieges of our castle, whilst the boggy not the building recorded in Domesday, though nature of the site itself suggests that it still held the dam and goyts probably were. The essential water well into the Nineteenth century if not need was to divert some or all of the flow of into the Twentieth. Sadly for modern enthusiasts, the source watercourse to a higher level and the railway embankment of c1879 covered store it there. It was then channeled through the derelict building whilst the watercouse was a waterwheel which was placed so that the culverted. Memories of wading through the

18 HISTORY & HERITAGE 1919 2019 Established in 1919, we The author’s photograph of the beck behind Asquith’s are your local, family run, shop, showing evidence of culverting using ashlars possibly independent opticians. ‘recovered’ from the St John’s Priory site following the Reformation. Interestingly, the nature and materials used Our opticians take their time over match those from the culverted part of the beck through every eye examination ensuring that the Wash (behind Mr T. Dixon’s house), suggesting that the every test is performed to the highest work was done at the same time. possible standard. “Friendly, P s al & Professi al” culvert beneath the embankment well over sixty www.moorhouseopticians.co.uk years ago include noting that the construction changed from brick to stone. Modern 01977 703 307 51 Ropergate, Pontefract, WF8 1JY interpretation suggests that this was/is(?) the remains of the wheel pit, utilised by the Victorian engineers. Tantalisingly, there may be a complete watermill foundation and wheelpit still inside that embankment! Pomfretians of the writer’s generation and older, may remember taking the short lane alongside Asquith’s butchers, crossing the Washbeck and turning left parallel to the (culverted) beck with Wood’s stackyard on the right. Shortly one entered Ep’s Hill with the beck still on the left and the huge swathe of stinging nettles on the right, extending to the foot of Expert Accountants the hill. Nettles are a sure sign of organic decay For over 26 years, the team at Stephens Accountants in Pontefract have been over centuries; years of experience suggests that supporting local business owners with all this was the site of the dam. In confirmation, their accounts and taxation needs. the lane continuing towards the orchard and railway embankment was still elevated to retain Check our website for ways to save on the water and prevent it returning to the beck. your existing fees: Even the present course of the beck is a culvert, www.stephensaccountants.co.uk probably created before the Conquest as Bondgate/Knottingley road here is the lowest  01977 791757 point of the valley, and therefore logically the [email protected] Southgate Business Centre, 32 Gillygate, WF8 1PQ original course.

HISTORYLOCAL & HISTORY HERITAGE 19 The Normanton, Castleford and Pontefract Tramway By Peter Cookson

n 29th October 1906 the Normanton, Castleford and Pontefract Tramway opened to public service. Although Ooperating for only nineteen years, it made an important contribution to transport in the Five Towns area and, along with the railways, enabled people to travel around the local district with relative ease. During the second half of the nineteenth a stop shortly after because of a dispute over century many of our cities and large industrial payments for earlier work. Work was resumed towns were experiencing severe congestion due early in 1905. to population growth. On routes not served by After the construction of lines in Castleford local railways, the normal mode of transport town centre, work proceeded outwards from was by horse power but this was slow and there to Normanton and Pontefract. The usual cumbersome. celebratory official opening with invited guests In November 1900 notice was given in the and decorated cars took place on Thursday 25th local press of a proposal by the United Kingdom October 1906, with full public service beginning Tramway, Light Railway and Electrical Syndicate on Monday 29th October 1906. By the time of to seek a provisional order to construct and the opening of the line, the section from Market maintain a tramway between Normanton, Place to North Baileygate had not been built, nor Castleford, Pontefract and Featherstone. By 1902 had the extension to Knottingley or the branch the suggestion had been made to extend the line to Featherstone Station. Although intentions to Knottingley. to build these lines remained for a while, they Castleford was selected as the location of were eventually abandoned along with other the tram depot and power station which were proposed routes to the west so that, as a result, situated in Wheldon Lane. Rather unusually for the Normanton – Pontefract line remained an this period the generators were powered by isolated section of the Yorkshire (West Riding) diesel engines instead of the more usual steam tramway system. engines. The journey time from Normanton to Work began on the construction of the local Pontefract was approximately 50 minutes, line at Castleford in April 1904, only to come to with trams running every 8 minutes, although

20 HISTORY & HERITAGE timetables varied over the years. The fare- – Pontefract section, together with shortages of stages were Market Place, Atkinson Street materials and labour led to a marked reduction in in Normanton; Wood Lane in Whitwood; the quality of the tracks and an increasingly rough Aketon Road, Bank Street, Smawthorne Lane and bumpy ride. in Castleford; Maltshovel Inn in Glasshoughton; By the early 1920’s, a further problem arose Woodman Inn, Parkside Farm, Park Gates and in the form of competition from newly emerging Market Place in Pontefract. The fare was 1d for bus operators. In the eyes of the general public, the first stage and ½ d for each additional stage, the new buses were seen as faster and more which equated to 6d for the full 7-mile journey. comfortable than the trams. In order to run this level of service, sixteen The situation could not continue and the end cars were based at the Castleford depot, which was in sight for the Normanton – Pontefract were supplied by Dick, Kerr and Co. Ltd. of tramway. Last-ditch appeals to the various local Preston. Eight open-top cars, no’s 23-30, together authorities to prevent unrestricted competition with eight of a modified design incorporating by the bus operators were refused, and the end upper balcony tops (no’s 31-38) made up the came on 1st November 1925. At 11pm on that complement. The earlier open-top cars received Sunday evening, tram number 13 with thirteen tops between 1911 and 1914. A serious fire at passengers on board, left Pontefract market Place the Depot in 1917 destroyed a number of cars for Castleford and the trams in Pontefract passed which had to be replaced by others. into history, probably unloved and unlamented The original livery selected for the trams was by most. I wonder if it was a gloomy, foggy or crimson and cream, but the First World War rainy night? Perhaps it should have been, to mark brought an end to this and a two-tone green appropriately a rather sad occasion. replaced it, although, as the war progressed, shortages of paint saw the use of drab browns and greys used. From 1924 a new livery of green and cream was devised and this continued into the ‘bus era and will be remembered by many readers. Although the tramway was not conspicuously successful (it made a profit in only two of its 19 years of existence), it played an important part in local transport of the period. There were occasions when the tramway carried very large numbers of passengers, especially at the times of Pontefract Races and the Statutes Fair. In those days the Fair was very extensive and occupied much space in the town centre, with the result that trams could not penetrate Market Place, and had to turn round at a temporary terminus near the Court House; even so, there were reports of occasional over-running and damage caused to side-shows by an errant tram. The period of the First World War witnessed a decline in standards on the tramways; the ravages of subsidence, especially on the Glasshoughton

HISTORYLOCAL & HISTORY HERITAGE 21 Additional events and more details on all the events listed below can be found at www.pomfretian.co.uk. If you would like to have your event included on this What’s On? page, please send details to [email protected]. Some events may include admission fees and require pre-booking.

Soap Making - Castle Crafts - Ages 2-5 Wakefield Adult 5 February, 10am - 11am Annual PSA Winter Ball Education - Ages 18+ 8 February, 9pm House Hotel 1 February, 10am - 3:30pm Fun creative session for 2-5 year Pontefract Castle olds and their adults. We will Ackworth School invite parents Learn how to make a range of be going outside as part of our and friends of the school to beautiful soaps using the melt activities so wear messy clothes celebrate their Annual PSA and pour methods. Booking and wellies. To check availability Winter Ball. Tickets cost £55 and essential. Tickets £56. To book and book, please call 01924 include a delicious three-course please call 01924 303302. 302700. meal followed by an evening of music and dancing.

Carleton & District African Drumming Ladies Group Meeting Workhop Talk: Pontefract In 3 February, 7pm for 7:30pm 8 February, 10am - 4pm Old Photographs The Rugby Club, Carleton Central Methodist Church with Wendy Jewitt - Ages18+ Join the Carleton & District One day drumming workshop Ladies group for a talk by hosted by Pontefract Festival of 10 February, 1pm - 2pm Pontefract Castle Stuart Atkins on ‘The Great Music Speech & Drama and run American Song Book’. Meeting by Bruce Ncube. The workshop Take a step back in time with fee £1 for members and £2 for is suitable for all ages but anyone Wendy Jewitt, who looks non-members, refreshments under 16 must be accompanied after the Wakefield Libraries included. by an adult. Cost £10. photographic archive. To check availability and book, please call 01924 302700. Pontefract Charity Memphis Cruisers Music Knitters Night 4 February, 2pm 8 February, 8pm - 11pm Yorkshire Roses Pontefract Congregational Pontefract Squash & Leisure Womens Institute Church Club 10 February, 7pm Pontefract Charity Knitters are Enjoy a night of music from The Rugby Club, Carleton meeting for a ‘hand-in’ in the the Memphis Cruisers - a top Join the Yorkshire Roses WI for church hall. We knit for various class authentic Rock n Roll / a Climate Change presention by charities from the homeless Rockabilly Trio. Free entry. Chritine Tall, WI Climate Change to those with dementia. If you Ambassador. Non members £5 are involved with a charity that includes refreshments and raffle could use some knitted goods, ticket. you are very welcome to come & see what’s available.

22 EVENTS & CULTURE Talk: Battle of Towton Stained Glass Love - Forever Workshop: Running 11 February, 7pm Changes. A CAT Club Hare - Adults 19+ presentation. 15 February, 10am - 3:30pm Pontefract Civic Society host an 20 February, 7:30pm - 10pm Pontefract Castle Queen’s Mill Castleford illustrated talk by David Skillern. Members FREE, non-members Fancy a crack at creating your The CAT Club in association £3, light refreshments included. own stained glass masterpiece? with Henry Smith Brewery Tickets £56. To book please presents Love - Forever contact Manygates Adult Changes. De Lacy Flower Club Education Centre Telephone: AGM 01924 303302. Email: Adult Talk: Medieval 11 February, 7:30pm [email protected] Churches of West Knottingley Town Hall Yorkshire by Dave Join De Lacy Flower Club Tom Hingley at The Weldrake for their AGM, followed by a Blind Pig 27 February, 1pm - 2pm Demonstration ‘Addicted to 16 February, 2pm - 6pm Strictly ‘ by Marie Bradly from The Blind Pig Pontefract Nottingham. Local historian Dave Weldrake Indie Legend Tom Hingley, talks you through a whistle the former Inspiral Carpets stop tour of some of the most Valentines frontman, will be at The Bling interesting medieval churches Schmalentines Pig for an afternoon of nineties in West Yorkshire. To check availability and book, please call 14 February, 7pm - 11:30pm nostalgia, up to date sounds and The Blind Pig Pontefract if you’re lucky a taste of his very 01924 302700. own brand of beer! Tickets £15 Fed up with being forced to endure the adoring looks Castleford Male Voice and sloppy kisses of loved up Choir Open Rehearsal couples, buy overpriced food Evening and be serenaded with sickly 6 March, 7:30pm - 9:30pm love songs? Then why not join Trinity Rehearsal Methodist The Blind Pig on 14th Feb and Hall, Castleford show some love The Blind Pig way! Tickets £10 and include Pie Castleford Male Voice Choir is & Peas. currently recruiting additional male voices and to assist in this Ponte-Facts programme will be holding an Valentine’s Day Bublé Open Rehearsal Evening. There 19 February, 10am - 3pm will be no obligation. You are 14 February, 7pm - 11:30pm Pontefract Museum Mauds Cafe of Pontefract invited primarily to an enjoyable Visit Pontefract Museum evening of music and it won’t Join Mauds Cafe for for a night this February half term to cost you a penny - the dream of great music, fantastic drinks discover some amazing, some Yorkshire evening out! deals and luuuuuurve! Get in amusing and some simply Further details from: touch to reserve a table. astonishing facts about the castlefordmalevoicechoir.co.uk history of our fantastic town Bill Bunton: 01977703418 then make a fun guessing [email protected] game to take home.

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