Pictures of Sandal Castle

a Castle in the town of Sandal Magna, in the county of West Yorkshire

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About Sandal Castle

The crumbling, naked ruins of Sandal Castle are now owned by Wakefield council, and what an inspired choice of centre-piece they make for a 21st-century pleasure park!

In Norman times Wakefield was held by the powerful De Warenne family, Earls of Surrey. By the middle of the 12th-century, they had left their Wakefield fortress in favour of a more substantial residence overlooking the River Calder. It took three generations of the De Warenne's to replace the original wooden motte and bailey structure at Sandal Magna, with a much stronger fortress built entirely of stone.

In 1460, the castle was the scene of the Battle of Wakefield which took place during the Wars of the Roses. Later in the 15th-century the castle was used as a Northern base by Richard III, but following his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 the castle fell silent and began to fall into disrepair. At the time of the 16th-century the only person to occupy the castle was its keeper. During this time several detailed surveys had been prepared but it would appear the building was so heavily damaged that no one wanted to take it on.

A brief period of revival occurred during the Civil War when it was used as a Royalist garrison, but the castle was quickly besieged by Parliamentarian Troops and was surrendered in the October of 1645 when it was stripped of its defences, never to be used again. Thus, the ruins became overgrown and lay hidden in the undergrowth until they were discovered in excavations of the 20th-century.

There is a speculative legend telling that this was once the haunt of Robin Hood who is said to be the son of a humble forester employed by John De Warenne. The boy was christened Robert Hood, and although legends are rife throughout Yorkshire, you cannot help but wonder, just wonder, if this really could be so.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Sandal Castle.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Sandal Castle

Pugneys Country Park	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)	Pictures
Wakefield Cathedral	(1.5 miles, 2.5 km, direction N)	Pictures
Newmillerdam Country Park	(1.9 miles, 3.1 km, direction S)	Pictures
Anglers Country Park	(2.6 miles, 4.1 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Nostell Priory	(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction E)	Pictures
Yorkshire Sculpture Park	(4.5 miles, 7.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
National Coal Mining Museum	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
Dewsbury Museum	(6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction W)	Pictures
Cannon Hall Country Park	(7.4 miles, 11.8 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Pontefract Castle	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction E)	Pictures

All attractions in West Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Sandal Castle

Wakefield, in the county of West Yorkshire (1.8 miles, 2.8 km, direction N)
Wakefield was the capital of Yorkshire's woollen industry for more than 700 years, it was an important weaving and dying centre as far back as the 13th century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Featherstone, in the county of West Yorkshire (5.6 miles, 9.1 km, direction E)
Featherstone is a large town lying between Wakefield and Pontefract in West Yorkshire. For the past couple of centuries the town was known chiefly for its coal mines.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Barnsley, in the county of South Yorkshire (7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction S)
This is an attractive town laid out along the River Dearne, it is enclosed by spectacular Pennine scenery and is an ideal place from which to discover the limestone hills and fresh green valley's of the Yorkshire Dales.
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Castleford, in the county of West Yorkshire (7.4 miles, 12.0 km, direction NE)
This is a large Northern town with roots stretching back to the Romans and beyond, as proven by the recent finding of a Bronze Age male skeleton and his chariot.
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Pontefract, a Historic Market Town in the county of West Yorkshire (7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction E)
Pontefract has a ruined castle which has seen many tragedies, Richard II was murdered there in 1400, and later it was the scene of bitter, bloody battles between Roundheads and Royalists.
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Mirfield, in the county of West Yorkshire (8.5 miles, 13.8 km, direction W)
Mirfield is a residential town situated between Huddersfield and Dewsbury. It has a long history, and associations with Robin...
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Leeds, in the county of West Yorkshire (10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction N)
In the middle ages Leeds was a wool centre and it flourished. The sheep on the Yorkshire moors providing the wool for the cottage...
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Almondbury, in the county of West Yorkshire (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction W)
Almondbury is one of the oldest and prettiest of the villages dominating the edge of the Pennine moors.
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Huddersfield, in the county of West Yorkshire (12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction W)
Huddersfield is a lively and interesting town that offers a rich cultural experience.
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Holmfirth, in the county of West Yorkshire (13.5 miles, 21.8 km, direction SW)
This is a place that will forever be associated with the gentle, romantic comedy "Last of the Summer Wine" which has graced our TV screens for more than a quarter of a century.
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All towns in West Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Sandal & Agbrigg Station	(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
Wakefield Kirkgate Station	(1.4 miles, 2.3 km, direction N)
M1 Junction 39	(1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction SW)
M1 Junction 40	(3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction NW)
Leeds Bradford International Airport	(15.9 miles, 25.6 km, direction NW)
Sheffield City Airport	(18.9 miles, 30.3 km, direction S)
Sandal Castle to London	(159.4 miles, 256.5 km, direction S)

Accommodation & Hotels near Sandal Castle

Hotel Name
Campanile Hotel Wakefield	(0.9 miles, 1.4 km)
Hotel St Pierre	(1.5 miles, 2.4 km, direction S)
Chasley Hotel	(1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction N)
Cedar Court Hotel	(1.8 miles, 2.9 km, direction SW)
Best Western Waterton Park Hotel	(1.8 miles, 2.9 km, direction SE)
Stanley View Guest House	(2.1 miles, 3.4 km, direction N)
Stoneleigh Hotel	(2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction E)
Days Hotel Wakefield M1 Jct 40	(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction NW)
Heath Cottage Hotel Limited	(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction NW)
De Vere Oulton Hall	(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction N)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts