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X-WR-CALNAME:Pontefract Civic Society
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Pontefract Civic Society
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260912
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260913
DTSTAMP:20260807T112745Z
CREATED:20260807T112649Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T112745Z
UID:2209-1789171200-1789257599@www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
SUMMARY:Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tours
DESCRIPTION:Join us on our popular tours of the Pontefract Castle dungeon – free for Heritage Open Days! \nTake a tour of the Pontefract Castle dungeon\nSoak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space. Discover the many uses of the dungeon. See where English Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock.\nWe love our dungeon tours and know you will too! \nTour Times \n\nSaturday 12 September:    1045\, 1130\, 1330\, 1415 & 1500\n\nPre booking is required via the booking link. \nPlease read this information to make sure they are suitable for you and your group.\nFree tickets can also be booked on the morning of the tour from the castle gift shop\, subject to availability. Online tickets will not be available on the day of the tour. \nUnder 5s\nThis tour is not suitable for young children and babies (under 5s).\nChildren and babies cannot be carried up or down the steps due to the risk of falling. \nMeeting point\nMeet at the Gift Shop inside the Visitor Centre 5 minutes before your tour starts. \nFootwear\nThis tour involves going underground using steep steps. The dungeon floor is uneven. Sensible footwear is strongly recommended. \nDogs\nDogs are not allowed on the tour. \nAccessibility details\nUnfortunately this tour is not accessible for blind / visually impaired visitors or wheelchair users. This is due to the low light levels\, uneven ground and 44 steep historic steps down into the dungeon. Dogs and assistance animals cannot be allowed into the dungeon because of the steep steps. The conditions in the dungeon are often damp and dark. This may make the tour uncomfortable for visitors with sensory hypersensitivities. For more access information visit https://museumsandcastles.wakefield.gov.uk/visit/pontefract-castle/access-information-at-pontefract-castle/ or get in touch.
URL:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/event/pontefract-castle-dungeon-tours/
LOCATION:Pontefract Castle\, The Lodge Castle Chain\, Castle Garth\,\, Pontefract\, West Yorkshire\, WF8 1QH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Heritage Open Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dungeon-tour.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260912
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260913
DTSTAMP:20260807T115508Z
CREATED:20260807T115508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T115508Z
UID:2223-1789171200-1789257599@www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
SUMMARY:Tour- Archbishop Holgate Hospital - legacy almshouses
DESCRIPTION:Tour of Holgate Hospital and Almshouses includes an opening talk in Ebor Hall about the history of Robert Holgate and his legacy.\n\nBorn in Hemsworth in 1481\, Robert Holgate who was Archbishop of York 1545 to 1553\, decreed in his will of 1555 that 24 almshouses within a 13 acre site\, should be built to provide for persons aged 60 years\, or over\, from the ancient parishes of Hemsworth\, Felkirk\, South Kirkby\, and Wragby. \nThe hosts will show a jacket that the Brothers and Sisters wore until the 1970’s.\nAfter the introductory talk\, visitors will take a tour of the Chapel\, Museum\, Boardroom and exterior of the Main House. \nRefreshments available by donation to the monthly charity. History books charged at a set price \n\nTour Times \nSaturday 12 September: 10:00; 13:00; 15:30\n\nPre booking required via booking link \nAdditional information\n\nMax number of people: 10\nEstimated duration: 1 hour 30 minutes\n\nAccessibility details\nAccessibility – The majority of the site is flat\, with some gentle slopes in places. Access to the chapel is via a disabled ramp\, the museum has a small wooden threshold to step over\, but once inside the floor is level. Information boards will be moved out of the museum and into the covered passageway\, so people have more space inside the museum. The boardroom\, however\, is the least accessible. There are 25 stairs to get to the boardroom\, without any other form of access\, this will be at your own risk. \n 
URL:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/event/tour-archbishop-holgate-hospital-legacy-almshouses/
LOCATION:Archbishop Holgate Hospital\, Robin Lane\, Hemsworth\, Pontefract\, West Yorkshire\, WF9 4PW\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Heritage Open Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/archbishop-holgates-exterior.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T170000
DTSTAMP:20260807T114417Z
CREATED:20260807T114417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T114417Z
UID:2218-1789207200-1789232400@www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
SUMMARY:All Saints Parish Church\, Pontefract open Day and Double Helix Staircase Tower Tours
DESCRIPTION:Church Open Day to see our wonderful and Ancient Parish Church \nAll Day Tours of our Double Helix Tower Staircase – Just turn up and join the next tour. This staircase has two sets of steps that spiral upwards in the same space and there is only one other in the U.K. and one or two in Europe. You will climb the narrow stairs from inside the Church and see the Ringing Chamber\, then return down the other set of steps\, emerging outside the current building.\nDisplay of Hand Painted Silk Vestments. These were made some years ago for All Saints Church and you will be able to see both the Vestments and some of the drawings and drafts of the Designs.\nSee the Communion Table and Pavement Candles\, etc. which were also designed specifically for the Church and reflect the architecture of the church and the Spiral Staircase.\nHear our Bells being rung and see how the Bells are rung.\nLight Refreshments all day. \nThis free event is part of Heritage Open Day \nAccessibility details\nAccess to the church is via a ramp so wheelchair and smaller ‘Buggies’ can enter\, but the Tower and Staircase are not accessible. For the Tower Tour you need to be wearing sensible shoes / boots and be reasonably fit as the space is small with a low roof in places and the steps are worn and uneven. If we can we will have a looped video of the Tour for those who don’t wish to go up the tower.
URL:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/event/all-saints-parish-church-pontefract-open-day-and-double-helix-staircase-tower-tours/
LOCATION:All Saints Parish Church\, South Baileygate\, Pontefract\, West Yorkshire\, WF8 2JL
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Heritage Open Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/all-saints.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T123000
DTSTAMP:20260807T113753Z
CREATED:20260807T113753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T113753Z
UID:2214-1789209000-1789216200@www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
SUMMARY:Lighting up the Past - Pontefract's hermitage and dispensary digitally rediscovered
DESCRIPTION:Join us to launch a new digital interpretation of Pontefract’s hermitage and dispensary\, including virtual reality and film. Explore a unique heritage site hidden beneath the streets of Pontefract through digital technology and story telling. \nJoin us to explore the amazing story of Pontefract’s medieval hermitage and Victorian dispensary through an exciting new digital interpretation. Created by One To One Development Trust\, with support from PDHAG\, Pontefract Civic Society\, Pontefract Archaeological Society and Wakefield Museums and Castles. \nThe new digital platform includes a virtual tour of the hermitage\, which is hidden underneath Southgate in Pontefract town centre\, and video clips of memories of the hermitage and former dispensary building above. The hermitage was hand carved into the rock beneath Pontefract in the 1300s. In the 1800s\, a new hospital building was created for the town and built on top of the entrance to the hermitage. \nThe digital hidden heritage project is part of Wakefield Council’s Our Heritage Our Stories project\, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. \nThe free event is part of Heritage Open Day \nAccessibility details\nThe event is on the first floor of the library\, in the community space. There is lift access.
URL:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/event/lighting-up-the-past-pontefracts-hermitage-and-dispensary-digitally-rediscovered/
LOCATION:Pontefract Library\, Shoemarket\, Pontefract\, West Yorkshire\, WF8 1BD\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Heritage Open Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/the-hermitage-skull-and-candle-6d9e1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T120008Z
CREATED:20260807T120008Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T120008Z
UID:2228-1789210800-1789214400@www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
SUMMARY:Talk : Women at War - the munition workers in WWI
DESCRIPTION:Local historian Eric Jackson relates the story of the National Shell Filling Factory Number 1\, better known as Barnbow\, especially the women that worked there and the explosion of 1916. \nThe illustrated talk describes the establishment of National Explosives and Filling Factories following the ‘Shell Crisis’ of 1916 and tells what led to the building of the Barnbow Munitions works\, what it did\, the women who worked there and how the artillery shells were manufactured and filled with explosives.\nThe central part of the talk is about the explosion of December 5th 1916 and its aftermath with the stories of some of those killed. The explosion killed over 30 girls\, including 2 from Pontefract and 6 from Castleford.\nThe memorials to those killed are described\, as well as similar disasters at other explosives factories\, and the effect women’s war work had on the eventual implementation of equal suffrage.\nThe end of production in 1918\, the factory’s closure in 1918\, its eventual demolition and sale\, and the site as it is today is also described along with a comparison with the similar World War Two works at Boston Spa. \nThis free event is part of Heritage Open Day \nPre booking preferred via link or turn up on the door.
URL:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/event/talk-women-at-war-the-munition-workers-in-wwi/
LOCATION:Pontefract Town Hall\, 3 Bridge Street\, Pontefract\, West Yorkshire\, WF8 1PG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Heritage Open Day
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/barnbow-workers.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Pontefract Civic Society":MAILTO:events@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T133000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T143000
DTSTAMP:20260807T150952Z
CREATED:20260807T150854Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T150952Z
UID:2284-1789219800-1789223400@www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
SUMMARY:Walk - Picturing Pontefract – People\, Places\, Professions
DESCRIPTION:Based on the Pontefract Museum’s exhibition ‘Picturing Pontefract’\, join Paul Cartwright on a meander around the town centre to view just a few of the locations selected by artists to showcase Pontefract’s heritage buildings and their uses over the centuries. \nMeet at Pontefract Museum\, 5 Salter Row\, Pontefract\, WF8 1BA \nThis free event is part of the Heritage Open Day
URL:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/event/walk-picturing-pontefract-people-places-professions/
LOCATION:Pontefract Museum\, 5 Salter Row\, Pontefract\, West Yorkshire\, WF8 1BA\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Heritage Open Day
ORGANIZER;CN="Pontefract Civic Society":MAILTO:events@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T133000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T153000
DTSTAMP:20260807T120435Z
CREATED:20260807T120435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T120435Z
UID:2231-1789219800-1789227000@www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk
SUMMARY:Pontefract’s George Fox Manuscripts Live Online Launch
DESCRIPTION:Wakefield Libraries are proud to launch a freely accessible digital edition of the George Fox manuscripts. \nThe fox manuscripts chart a unique handwritten and illustrated journey through the history of Pontefract by one of 19th century Pontefract’s most passionate local historians. \nView the rarely seen original manuscripts alongside the new digital\, fully transcribed version accessible via www.twixtairedancalder.org.uk thanks to funding from Arts Council England. Take a behind the scenes view of the digitisation process to see this unique record of Pontefract’s past brought to life. This is event is a drop in. \nThis free event is part of Heritage Open Days
URL:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/event/pontefracts-george-fox-manuscripts-live-online-launch/
LOCATION:Pontefract Library\, Shoemarket\, Pontefract\, West Yorkshire\, WF8 1BD\, United Kingdom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fox-vol-00100302-copy.jpg
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