14 June 2026 Pontefract and Conisbrough Castles

 Two castles were on the menu for today, Pontefract Castle, the place where Richard II was starved to death by Henry IV, and Conisbrough Castle, the home of the de Warenne dynasty of England.


Pontefract Castle is another one of the Motte and Bailey castles that was order by William I after his victory at the Battle of Hastings. He gave the Honoures of Clitheroe and Pontefract to the de Lacy family. This was a very important location, considering the threat from the Anglo-Saxon Northern Lords in England, as well as the Scots.


From its founding in the 11th century, Pontefract was ruled over by 29 Lords, the first 13 of which were de Lacy's and members of the House of Lancaster. After that, the castle was reabsorbed by the King of England into the Royal estates, and managed through the Crown. 

The last de Lacy who had possession of Pontefract was Henry de Lacy, and when he died without a male heir in 1311, Thomas of Lancaster (nephew to Edward I through his first marriage to Henry's daughter, Alice de Lacy) was given the castle. 

My ancestors associated with Pontefract Castle are the first two de Lacy's, Gilbert (1045-1093) and Robert (1070-1129). Two other ancestors are Robert le Waleys, who occupied the castle for a while, and Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury, who has this castle listed as an alternate death location for him. 

Next was Conisbrough Castle, given to the de Warenne family by William I as well. Conisbrough had a very impressive keep, and it stayed in the de Warenne family's possession until 1347. 


Conisbrough Castle really hit it's stride when Hamelin de Anjou, an illegitimate brother to Henry II, was married to Isabel de Warenne, last remaining Heiress of the de Warenne family. This came about just after King Stephen had passed, and Conisbrough was rebuilt as we see it today. 

In 1347, the de Warenne line came to an end, and Edward III received the estates of the de Warenne family. Edward III in turn gave the estates over to his 4th son, Edmund of Langley, who I am also a direct descendant of. 

Conisbrough Castle became heavily involved in the War of the Roses between Richard II and Henry Bolingbroke, both cousins of each other. Eventually, Henry won out. 

By the time of the English Civil War, Conisbrough had fallen into such a state of ruin, that Cromwell's Army never even wasted ammunition to slight it. 

Today, it is an English Heritage Trust location, and very picturesque. It was also the birthplace of King Richard III's father, Richard, Duke of York. 

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