Rotherham The Unofficial Website An unofficial website about the Town and Borough of Rotherham

Sandal Castle & Pugneys Country Park

Sandal Castle

On a hill just south west of Wakefield are the remains of Sandal Castle. It was built by the de Warenne family, Earls of Surrey from about 1107. The de Warenne's were a very powerful family and married into both legitimate and illegitimate lines of the English royal family. In the 14th Century the castle and estate reverted to the king when the line failed. It was granted to the king's son Edmund of Langley who rarely resided there and it was under the management of stewards and constables.

After the death of Richard III in 1485 the castle became little used and fell into decay. It was held for the Royalists during the Civil War although in a bad state and was besieged by Parliamentarian troops three times in 1645 and eventually capitulated. The following year what remained of the castle was slighted or made unuseable. Since that time it has been a ruin. Like many such ruins you can find bits of stone and fitments all over the surrounding neighbourhood.

Even though only a small part is left it is still pretty impressive.

Free car park with limited parking open 9.30am to just before dusk - closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Picnic area, small visitor centre with very friendly and helpful staff, which has historical displays, shop, toilets and sells drinks and ice creams. Take your own snap. Being an old castle, access is not available to some parts for wheelchairs and buggies.

Address:- Manygates Lane, Wakefield, WF2 7DG. Tel. 44 (0)1924 249779.

From here you can walk over the fields to Pugneys Country Park.

Pugneys Country Park

Set in the valley of the River Calder, Pugneys was developed from a former opencast mine and a sand and gravel quarry. It was opened to the public in 1985. The park comprises two lakes (and a pond marked private), the larger of which is dedicated to non-powered watersports and the smaller lake which is a nature reserve. The area is part of the local flood defences and is designed to take the overflow from the River Calder after heavy rain.

Car park (parking charge) open 9am to just before dusk - closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. There is a large watersports centre which is very popular and a cafe serving hot and cold food. Walks around the main lake and over the fields to Sandal Castle. Some rough paths may not be suitable for buggies and wheelchairs especially in muddy weather. Bird watching hides. A 7.25" gauge miniature railway, running round part of the larger lake, operates on weekends and bank holidays.

Address:- Wakefield, WF2 7DG. Tel. 44 (0)1924 302360.