Mole yearns for adventure, Rat adores boats and Badger likes peace and quiet. Into their lives bursts Toad who loves very fast cars and just cant seem to help getting into trouble. But can the animals reform Toads character and evict the squatters from his ancestral home to restore justice to the world? Kenneth Grahames perennial classic is brought to the stage in Illyrias inimitable style. By Kenneth Grahame, adapted by Oliver Gray. Tickets: Adults: 18 plus 1.51 booking fee Child (5-16y): 10 plus 0.84 booking fee Under 5s: free and no ticket required Disabled people and registered carers: 18 plus 1.51 booking fee (price of 1 adult ticket, valid for 2 people). Proof of carer status required. Frequently Asked Questions: What time does the event start? Gates open from 6pm, performance starts at 7pm and finishes around 9.30pm - 10pm. Is there an interval?There is a 15-minute interval at around 1 hour in. Will the performance go on if its raining?Yes. In the case of adverse weather, the event will not be cancelled and will go ahead as planned. If adverse weather does cause us to cancel you will be advised ahead of time. Only in the event of us cancelling will a refund be offered. Do you offer refunds or exchanges? Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Only in the event of us cancelling will a refund be offered. Do you offer Carer tickets? We offer a combined Disabled Person and Registered Carer ticket, priced at the value of 1 adult ticket and valid for 2 people. Proof of eligibility will need to be provided on arrival which could include: Carers Card, An Access Card, National Carers and Disability Card, recent Attendance Allowance Letter (AA), Carers Allowance Letter of Award, Disability Living Allowance Letter (DLA), or Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Is the event wheelchair accessible?Yes, this event is wheelchair accessible. The event will take place in the main grassed castle bailey area, which can be reached by level access paths. The paths are a mixture of gravel and stone. You can position yourself wherever you like, and bring additional seating to switch into if you wish. Our team will be on hand to show you the easiest route to a good spot. Are refreshments available? No, but you are welcome to bring a picnic and alcohol. No BBQs permitted. Please drink responsibly and take home any litter. Is there any seating? No. Please bring your own low-backed seats. Do under 5s need a ticket? No, under 5s are free and don't need a ticket. Is the event outdoors?The event takes place outdoors on the main grassed area of the castle and will take place whatever the weather. Large umbrellas (fishing / parasol) or tents are not permitted due to safety and visibility issues. Please bring ponchos, raincoats or regular / golf umbrellas if the weather is wet. Can I bring my dog? Well-behaved dogs are welcome but please keep them on a lead. Are there toilets available? The toilets in the Visitor Centre will be open throughout the performance. There is also an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities. Where can I park? Please use town centre car parks which are mostly free after 6pm. We recommend that you dont park in the Aldi carpark on South Baileygate, as charges may apply.Further parking info for Pontefract [https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/parking/car-parks-across-the-district/car-parks-in-pontefract/] I have a Blue Badge, where can I park? There are two accessible parking spaces on the road outside the castle gates. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking on the roadside is also available for Blue Badge holders on many of the surrounding roads marked with double yellows. Please checkThe Blue Badge Scheme [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-badge-scheme-rights-and-responsibilities-in-england/the-blue-badge-scheme-rights-and-responsibilities-in-england] for rules on where parking is permitted. Can I smoke during the event? Smoking or vaping is not allowed in the grounds of Pontefract Castle. A smoking area will be available outside the main gates. Can tickets be purchased on the night? Tickets will be available online up to the time of the performance, subject to availability. They cannot be bought at the castle itself. Will the performers have microphones?Illyria state 'Our actors are highly trained professionals who are hugely talented and have powerful foghorn voices, so we don't use microphones.' COVID-19: You should not attend the event if you or anyone in your group are experiencing COVID symptoms. We are unable to offer refunds if you are unable to attend due to COVID related illness or self-isolation. Please note all information is subject to change. Any questions?You can email us [email protected] and we will get back to you during office hours. These are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. You can also ring the Visitor Centre on 01977 723440. The Visitor Centre is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. We can usually pick up the phone during opening hours. Please leave us a message with your contact number if we cannot pick up at the time.

Join us for a tour of the castle dungeons. Soak in the atmosphere of this eerie underground space, discover the history of the dungeon and see where Civil War prisoners left to languish scratched their names into the rock. We love our dungeon tours and know you will too! Please read this information to make sure they are suitable for you and your group. Then book your tickets with the 'Book Now' button below: Tickets can also be bought 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. Under 5s This tour is generally not suitable for young children and babies (under 5s). Children and babies cannot be carried up or down the steps due to the risk of falling. Meeting point Meet at the Gift Shop inside the Visitor Centre 5 minutes before your tour starts. Footwear This tour involves going underground using steep steps. The dungeon floor is uneven. Sensible footwear is strongly recommended. Duration Tours last around 45 minutes. Refunds Generally, tickets are non-refundable. If the Castle cancels the tour, your tickets will be refunded in this case. Dogs Dogs are not allowed on the tour. Access Unfortunately 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. Alternatively, we offer Castle Explorer Tours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. These are fully level access and accessible for all. You can book these by going back to the main ticket page or at the Pontefract Castle Gift Shop. 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. Fliming Filming or photography of our staff is not allowed. Parking Pontefract Castle car park is located on Beech Hill. This is a short distance from the castle entrance - a walk of around 5 minutes. The car park post code is WF8 2JF. Contact Us Online bookings enquiries:Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays) General visit and on-the-day enquiries:Contact the Pontefract Castle Gift Shop on 01977 723440 and leave a message. This number is monitored Tuesday to Sunday, 10 to 4. You can also email us [email protected]. Please note this email address is only monitored during office hours.

Join Ilbert the dragon at Pontefract Castle for a fun and friendly afternoon of storytelling and hands on play. Each month help Ilbert and his storyteller bring their books to life through music, props and actions. Then get stuck in with activities, crafts, games and rhymes. These sessions are a great way to spend time together and discover new ways of learning with your child! Wednesday 2 July Summer dragons Are you ready for some dragon fun? Get those wings flapping and practice your roar! This month is all about fiery, friendly dragons and their adventures. Wednesday 3 September Castles and bridges Ilbert is building a tall castle and making a special bridge to keep the castle safe. Have fun building and making your own magnificent castles. Play with bridges and blocks. Wednesday 1 October Autumn colours Autumn leaves are bright and colourful. This season is a magical time to experiment and explore. Join Ilbert on an autumn adventure with a great story and activities. Play with leaf boats and make your own bright leafy friend. Wednesday 5 November Spooky castles Boo! Its spooky season and Ilbert is having fun with witches and ghosts. Help him mix up a potion. Make some magic this November. Wednesday 3 December Christmas castle Join Ilbert for a jolly story. Help him lay out a Christmas feast. Make some winter decorations and have fun with crafts and games. FAQs How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. We will respond as soon as possible. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, we will have your details at the door. Refund Policy No refunds will be offered on this event.

Join us for a tour of the castle as our friendly guide takes you around this historic site. In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britains most important castles and was known as The Key to the North! Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castles role in the English Civils Wars. Find out what the castle looked like in its heyday and why the castle now looks as it does! Tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs. FAQs How long is the tour? Tours last around 45 minutes. Can I buy tickets on the day? Tickets can also be bought 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. Does the tour involve steps? No, the tour stays on the level paths. However, the tour does involve walking around the site. Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or those with mobility scooters or pushchairs? Yes, the tour stays on the main paths around the castle grounds. Is the tour outside? Yes, the tour is outside and will continue in most weather conditions. Please bring clothing suitable for the weather. Is the tour suitable for young children? The tour is suitable for all ages. Under 5s are free and do not need a ticket. Can I get a refund if I can no longer attend? Tickets are non-refundable. Will I get a refund if the Castle cancels the tour? Yes, refunds will be issued in this case. Can I bring a dog on the tour? Yes, well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome on this tour. Where can I park? Pontefract Castle car park is located on Beech Hill a short distance from the castle entrance - a walk of approx. 5min. Car park post code is WF8 2JF Meeting point Meet at the Gift Shop inside the Visitor Centre 5 minutes before your tour starts. Contact Us Online bookings enquiries: Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays) General visit and on-the-day enquiries:Contact the Pontefract Castle Gift Shop on 01977 723440 and leave a message. This number is monitored Tuesday to Sunday, 10 to 4. You can also email us at [email protected]. Please note this email address is only monitored during office hours.

Join Carole, one of our volunteer gardeners as she talks about the plants in our Medieval Herb Garden. See unusual and familiar plants in a new light. Find out how they were used throughout history. Discover whats in a name, and why some of those names have changed over time. This talk takes place outside by the herb garden and is free. FAQs How can I contact the organiser with any questions? [email protected], or call 01924 302700 and leave a message. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays) General visit and on-the-day enquiries: Contact the Pontefract Castle Gift Shop on 01977 723440 and leave a message. This number is monitored Tuesday to Sunday, 10 to 4. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, we will have your details on the door.

Autumn is the perfect time to get cosy crafting. Take inspiration from nature and the changing of the seasons. Use autumnal finds to create and paint your own decorative plaster plaque. FAQs How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays) What's the refund policy? Refunds are only available for cancellations up to 7 days before the event. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, we will have your details on the door.

In this fun home education workshop designed for children aged 5+ we will be investigating the snailman, an intriguing little artefact found near Pontefract which depicts a medieval knight sitting within a snails shell balanced on top of a goats back! We will: consider why these three creatures might have been combined to create this quirky object search for clues that might help us to understand what the artefact was used for investigate some other (often very amusing) examples of snails in medieval art, considering the symbolism behind each example design our own medieval-style soldier and snail creations If you would like more information about the workshop please email us [email protected]. This session is delivered in partnership with the Community & Family Learning Team at Wakefield Councils Adult Education Service. FAQs How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. We will respond as soon as possible. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays.) Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, we will have your details at the door. Refund Policy No refunds will be offered on this event.

In the 1700s, there were a lot of recipes around for some rather strange sounding sweet treats things like flummery, syllabub and quaking pudding! How do we know? Well much of the evidence comes to us in the form of written recipes. In this home education workshop suitable for children aged 7+ we will: explore recipes collected by Elizabeth Moxon, a resident of Georgian era Pontefract and the first woman from West Yorkshire known to have published a cookery book! consider where ingredients came from and at what cost (focusing on Elizabeth's recipes for sweet treats) have a go at mixing one of Elizabeth's recipes to take home! PLEASE NOTE: In this workshop participants will come into contact with different foods which may include/contain nuts, dairy, eggs and/or gluten. Please contact us before booking to discuss if anyone in your group has any food allergies, intolerances or restrictions. If you would like more information about the workshop please email us [email protected]. This session is delivered in partnership with the Community & Family Learning Team at Wakefield Councils Adult Education Service. FAQs How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. We will respond as soon as possible. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays.) Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, we will have your details at the door. Refund Policy No refunds will be offered on this event.

Home educated children aged 5+ and their grown-ups are invited to join us at Pontefract Castle as we celebrate the Christmas season with some Tudor-inspired festive crafts. In this workshop, we will: discover some of the traditions that the people who lived and worked at Pontefract Castle in Tudor times would have followed at Christmastime get Christmas-crafty modelling tasty sugar-mice treats creating sweetly-scented spice bags fashioning festive paper crowns making fun Tudor-style toys! PLEASE NOTE: In this workshop participants will come into contact with food stuffs including sugar paste and various spices. If you have any concerns about food allergies, intolerances or sensitivitiesplease contact us before booking to discuss. If you would like more information about the workshop please email us [email protected]. This session is delivered in partnership with the Community & Family Learning Team at Wakefield Councils Adult Education Service. FAQs How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. We will respond as soon as possible. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays.) Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, we will have your details at the door. Refund Policy No refunds will be offered on this event.

In the past, castles like Pontefracts could be cold, drafty places for the people who lived and worked in them. In this home education session for children aged 7+, we will investigate ways in which the castles rooms would have been heated and methods used to try and retain that heat including hanging up cloth tapestries. We will: look at pictures of real medieval and Tudor tapestries for inspiration create our own small fabric wall hangings inspired by the history of Pontefract Castle try out different textile techniques to apply decorations to the wall hangings including sewing, needle felting, and cutting and pasting shapes If you would like more information about the workshop please email us [email protected]. This session is delivered in partnership with the Community & Family Learning Team at Wakefield Councils Adult Education Service. Image:Wiki Commons Public Domain [https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A franco-flemish armorial tapestry with caot of arms of Robert Chabot and Antoinette d%2527Illiers.jpg] FAQs How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. We will respond as soon as possible. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays.) Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, we will have your details at the door. Refund Policy No refunds will be offered on this event.

What incredible events the walls of Pontefract Castle have seen! While we can only wish the walls could talk, they have other ways of telling us about the past. There are all sorts of interesting features and quirks hidden in plain sight. Discover what secrets they can share about this once great castle in our intriguing talk forHeritage Open Days [https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/]! Free talk, booking required as places are limited. For adults 16+ This event will take place in the Visitor Centre at Pontefract Castle. FAQs How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Online bookings enquiries:[email protected] or call 01924 302700 and leave a message. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays) General visit and on-the-day enquiries: Contact the Pontefract Castle Gift Shop on 01977 723440 and leave a message. This number is monitored Tuesday to Sunday, 10 to 4. Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? No, we will have your details on the door.

Discover the intriguing history of Pontefract Castle on a friendly and informative tour of the castle.This tour is free forHeritage Open Days [https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/]! Join us for a tour of the castle as our friendly guide takes you around this historic site. In years gone by, Pontefract Castle was one of Britains most important castles and was known as The Key to the North! Discover who built and lived in the castle and listen to stories of unfaithful Queens, imprisoned Kings as well the castles role in the English Civils Wars. Find out what the castle looked like in its heyday and why the castle now looks as it does! The tour is suitable for wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs. FAQs How long is the tour? Tours last around 45 minutes. Can I book tickets on the day? Free tickets can also be booked on the morning of the tour at the castle gift shop, subject to availability. Online tickets will not be available on the day of the tour. Does the tour involve steps? No, the tour stays on the level paths. However, the tour does involve walking around the site. Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or those with mobility scooters or pushchairs? Yes, the tour stays on the main paths around the castle grounds. Is the tour outside? Yes, the tour is outside and will continue in most weather conditions. Please bring clothing suitable for the weather. Is the tour suitable for young children? The tour is suitable for all ages. Under 5s are free and do not need a ticket. Can I bring a dog on the tour? Yes, well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome on this tour. Where can I park? Pontefract Castle car park is located on Beech Hill a short distance from the castle entrance - a walk of approx. 5min. Car park post code is WF8 2JF Meeting point Meet at the Gift Shop inside the Visitor Centre 5 minutes before your tour starts. Contact us Online bookings enquiries: Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays) General visit and on-the-day enquiries:Contact the Pontefract Castle Gift Shop on 01977 723440 and leave a message. This number is monitored Tuesday to Sunday, 10 to 4.

Dark deeds, grizzly tales and gruesome ends Pontefract Castle has seen it all! Join our costumed guide (Chris Cade) as he takes on the role of local Victorian historian Richard Holmes. Richard will lead you on a lantern-lit tour of the castle, illuminating its dark history. Richard Holmes was the leading historian of Pontefract in the 1800s. Using Holmes original publications, Chris Cade has created an entertaining and educational tour of the castle. Book your tickets now for a terrific night out if you dare! Please note:this tour involves steps around the site and going into the dungeon. The dungeon can only be accessed by a series of steep historical steps. If you cannot comfortably reach the dungeon, we can show you a video of the dungeon tour on a tablet while the rest of the group are below ground. The tour is not suitable for under 5s. Contact Us Online bookings enquiries:Call 01924 302700 and leave a message. This number is monitored during office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 4. (It is not monitored at weekends and on bank holidays) General visit and on-the-day enquiries:Contact the Pontefract Castle Gift Shop on 01977 723440 and leave a message. This number is monitored Tuesday to Sunday, 10 to 4. You can also email us [email protected]. Please note this email address is only monitored during office hours.

Please join us to hear the results of the recent community consultation on the development of a new heritage network for the Wakefield District, and plans for the roll out of the network over the next 9 months. West Yorkshire design agency Buttercrumble will present the results of their research, and recommendations for the shape of the network going forward, based on feedback collected from heritage groups from across the Wakefield District. Find out how to become a network member, and how the network will support heritage groups and activities across the Wakefield District in 2025 and 2026. Part of the Our Heritage Our Stories project, funded by Wakefield Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. With thanks to Lottery players.