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CHAPTER XX. THE STORY OF PONTEFRACT CASTLE. ONTEFRACT town and castle areof great, though uncertain, antiquity. The origin of either, and even the very etymology of the name, are alike unknown, the legends and conjectures of both ancient and modern historians being unreliableand unsatisfactory. It may "y have hadits foundation in the timeofthe Celts,the Romans, or the Saxons. Accordingto Camden'saccount, the name of Pontefract was given to it by the Romans in the placeof an earlierBritish appellation. During Saxon supremacyit was known as Kirkby, andit is not improbable that in the vicinity was erected one of the first Christian churches of England. After the Norman Conquest the place was included in a grant made by the Conqueror to Ilbertde Lacy of a vast tract of land. He built at Pontefract his stronghold, which united in structure the qualities of castle, fortress, and palace. According to some authorities, it was he who gave the present name to the place,being reported to have called it Pontfrete through some imaginarylikeness to his birthplace in Normandy so called. The castle, princely and magnificent, was placed upon the topmost part of an elevated and nearly isolated rock of great extent. Its
THE STORY OF PONTEFRACT CASTLE. 131 situation,uncommandedbyanyneighbouringhill,seemed impregnableexcept to the force of starvation;it had also the great advantage of commandinga prospect overthe surroundingdistrict on every side excepting towards the south, where the view was interrupted by Baghill Rock, which was equal in height, if not superior. From the lofty embattlements could be distinctly discerned the stately pinnacles of York Minster, the towns of Selby, Malton,BraytonBurgh,Howden,andHambletonHaugh; whilst the landscape stretching round in unsurpassed panorama was completed in effect by the undulating wolds and the cloud-piercing summitsof the Derbyshire hills melting awayin the far distance. The wall of the castle yard washigh, and enclosed no less a space than about seven acres. The principal feature of the formidable fortifications was the Round Tower,or keep, which was raised upon an artificial elevation far exceeding in height the other turrets, with a diameter of 64 feet. Its walls were of immense thickness, with embrasures at intervals. The best description of the Castle gives its appearance and parts as extant at the beginning of the Civil War, at which time there is little doubt that it retained the principal characteristics of the original structure. The wall was flanked by seven towers, which were respectively Pype's Tower, also called the Red Tower; the Treasurer's,or Gascoigne's Tower; Queen's Tower, King's Tower, Constable's Tower, Swillington's Tower, and, to the west, a square tower of great size andimmeasurable strength, calledthe Main Guard, and from which an embattled wall branched out towards the stables. Other important buildings were the Great Hall, St. Conduit's Chapel,and the Barbican, which stood before the Great Gate, being formed by an exceedingly strong andhigh semi-circular wall, with its own embattled gate, and strengthened by two stupendous turrets. From the Barbican a wall extended in a southerly direction down the Knottingleyturnpike road to apoint almost opposite the east end of Baghill. St. Clement's Chapel and St.
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Historic Yorkshire.
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PRINTEDBY TRED. R. SPARK, "EX,RF.SS
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CONTENTS. Chapter. I. Alfred, King
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2 ALFRED, KING OF NORTHUMBRIA. nort
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4 ALFRED, KING OF NORTHUMBRIA. his
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6 ALFRED,KING OF NORTHUMBRIA. fosse
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CHAPTER II. THE STORY OF ST. JOHN O
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10 ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY. up the exc
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12 ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY. milefrom t
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14 ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY. discrete m
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16 ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY. beneath th
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18 LEEDS BEFORE THE CONQUEST. There
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20 LEEDS BEFORE THE CONQUEST. North
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22 LEEDS BEFORE THE CONQUEST. Steph
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24 LEEDS UNDER THE NORMANS. This ch
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26 LEEDS UNDER THE NORMANS. compani
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28 LEEDS UNDER THE NORMANS. accompa
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Chapter V, THE JEWISH MASSACRE AT Y
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32 JEWISH MASSACRE AT YORK can enab
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34 JEWISH MASSACRE AT YORK. the lik
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Chapter VI. MYSTERY PLAYS IN YORKSH
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38 MYSTERY PLAYSIN YORKSHIRE. was t
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40 MYSTERY PLAYSIN YORKSHIRE. Ah, g
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42 MYSTERY PLAYSIN YORKSHIRE. To wh
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44 MYSTERY PLAYS IN YORKSHIRE. of w
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46 BOLTON ABBEY. The original situa
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48 BOLTON ABBEY. Alice gave the Can
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50 BOLTON ABBEY. Nor did she fear i
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Chapter VIII. BLACK-EACED CLIFFORD.
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54 BLACK-FACED CLIFFORD. Duke of Yo
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56 BLACK-FACED CLIFFORD. His career
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Chapter IX. THE SHEPHERD LORD. But
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60 THE SHEPHERD LORD. the safety of
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62 THE SHEPHERD LORD. The Shepherd
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64 HENRY THE III.'s CHRISTMAS AT YO
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66 HENRY THE IIL's CHRISTMAS AT YOR
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68 HENRY THE III.'s CHRISTMAS AT YO
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70 THE TRAGIC STORY OF THE ELLANDS.
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Chapter xii. THE FALL AND DEATH OF
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78 THE FALL AND DEATH OF RICHARDII.
Page 94 and 95: 80 THE FALL AND DEATH OF RICHARD II
Page 96 and 97: 82 THE FALL AND DEATH OF RICHARDII.
Page 98 and 99: 84 THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE. took t
Page 100 and 101: 86 THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE. and ye
Page 102 and 103: 88 THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE. threat
Page 104 and 105: 90 THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE. distur
Page 106 and 107: 92 THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE. suffer
Page 108 and 109: 94 THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE. " had
Page 110 and 111: 96 THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE. upon w
Page 112 and 113: 98 THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD. We f
Page 114 and 115: 100 THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD. who
Page 116 and 117: Chapter XV. THE BATTLE OF WAKEFIELD
Page 118 and 119: 104 THE BATTLE OF WAKEFIELD. the La
Page 120 and 121: 106 THE BATTLE OF WAKEFIELD. the Ca
Page 122 and 123: Chapter XVI. THE BATTLE OF TOWTON,
Page 124 and 125: 110 THE BATTLE OF TOWTON. their qui
Page 126 and 127: 112 THE BATTLE OF TOWTON. death-blo
Page 128 and 129: 114 THE BATTLE OF MARSTON MOOR. The
Page 130 and 131: 116 THE BATTLE OF MARSTON MOOR. att
Page 132 and 133: CHAPTER XVIII. THE STORY OF A TAX O
Page 134 and 135: 120 THE STORY OF A TAX. surprising
Page 136 and 137: 122 THE STORY OF A TAX. those who s
Page 138 and 139: CHAPTER XIX. CATHOLIC PERSECUTION.
Page 140 and 141: 126 CATHOLIC PERSECUTION. At a late
Page 142 and 143: 128 CATHOLIC PERSECUTION. on his wa
Page 146 and 147: 132 THE STORY OF PONTEFRACT CASTLE.
Page 154 and 155: 140 BEVERLEY SANCTUARY. to a church
Page 156 and 157: 142 BEVERLEY SANCTUARY. another tow
Page 158 and 159: 144 BEVERLEY SANCTUARY. masons,2; d
Page 160 and 161: CHAPTER XXII. DEATH OF THE DUKE OF
Page 162 and 163: 148 DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM
Page 168 and 169: CHAPTER XXIII. EUGENE ARAM, THE YOR
Page 170 and 171: 156 EUGENE ARAM. who wanted them fo
Page 172 and 173: 158 EUGENE ARAM. sharply, which had
Page 174 and 175: 160 EUGENE ARAM. bones ? " In concl
Page 176 and 177: Chapter XXIV. HISTORY OF THE YORKSH
Page 178 and 179: 164 YORKSHIRE RESURRECTION MEN. ope
Page 180 and 181: 166 YORKSHIRE RESURRECTION MEN. the
Page 182 and 183: 168 YORKSHIRE RESURRECTION MEN. one
Page 184 and 185: 170 THE LUDDITE RIOTS. in spreading
Page 186 and 187: 172 THE LUDDITE RIOTS. the mastersa
Page 188 and 189: 174 THE LUDDITE RIOTS. two troops o
Page 190 and 191: Chapter XXVI. ECHOES OF OLD LEEDS.
Page 192 and 193: 178 ECHOES OF OLD LEEDS. property,a
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180 ECHOES OF OLD LEEDS. greatquant
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182 ECHOES OF OLD LEEDS. Lane. In17
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CHAPTER xxvii. THE BISHOP BLAIZE FE
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186 THE BISHOP BLAIZE FESTIVAL. has
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188 THE BISHOP BLAIZE FESTIVAL. Mr.
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190 THE BISHOP BLAIZE FESTIVAL. but
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192 THE PRESS-GANG IN YORKSHIRE. Th
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194 THE PRESS-GANG IN YORKSHIRE. Mr
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196 THE PRESS-GANG IN YORKSHIRE. in
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198 PAGE. Black-faced Clifford, see
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200 PAGE. Laid on a hurdle and drag
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202 INDEX. PAGE. Nevison, highwayma
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204 PAGE. Vaughan, Sir Thomas 133 V
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