Pontefract in West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Historic Market Place
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 16, 2025
1. Historic Market Place Marker
Medieval market town
In 1194, a market charter granted Pontefract the right to a weekly market. For eight centuries, local traders have been coming to town to sell their animals and produce.
The Pomfret printery
Oswald Holmes expanded the family printing business into purpose-built premises at 11-13 Gillygato in 1906. The family were keen local historians and published many historical pamphlets and town guidebooks over the years, as well as the Pontefract newspaper.
Conservation area
The Pontefract THI scheme has helped to preserve many noteworthy commercial buildings sited on the historic streets of the town's conservation area.
Pontefract politics
In 1872, the Liberal minister Hugh Childers delivered his re-election address to voters from the balcony of the Red Lion. Childers became the first to win a seat in parliament by means of a secret ballot. The original ballot box can be seen on display in Pontefract Museum.
Erected by Pontefract Civic Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1194.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in England’s Yorkshire & The Humber. Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Violet Pritchard, 1904-1974 (a few steps from this marker); Peter & Fred Asquith (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Buttercross (about 150 meters away); St Richard's Dominican Friary, Pontefract - 1256-1538 (about 210 meters away); Liquorice Cultivation at Friarwood Valley Gardens (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Flower Power (approx. half a kilometer away); Dig for Victory! (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pontefract.
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 16, 2025
2. Historic Market Place Marker, under the archway
Photographed by Lilywhite Ltd., Halifax, circa 1920
3. Market Place and Parish Church, Pontefract
Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 137 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on July 30, 2025. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
