The importance of Pontefract!
Pontefract Borough is one of the oldest in the country and it has seen some significant historical acts take place within its boundary. When Civil War broke out Pontefract Castle remained a Royalist stronghold and was reputed to have been the last to fall to Cromwell’s armies.
The first minute book of Pontefract Borough Council contains details of the decision to destroy the castle after the three sieges which took place there during the course of the civil war. The full destruction of the castle which was ordered by parliament had the full support of the surrounding population. They were grateful to destroy the castle and thus stop the fighting in their area. In the view of the locals, the castle was a magnet for trouble. Later the bailey area was used for growing liquorice
The Pontefract Borough collection holds over 400 boxes of material from 1194 to 1974 when it became incorporated as part of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. The original charter of 1194 still exists as well as a charter of incorporation from 1484 which appoints John Hill as the first Mayor of Pontefract.
In the later nineteenth century the town expanded with the growth of liquorice sweet making, the coal industry and the stationing of two regiments in permanent barracks
In 1872 Pontefract became noted as the first town to use the secret ballot, which was employed in a by-election.
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