| Summary : A house of Dominican Friars at Pontefract was founded in 1256 and dissolved in 1538. No trace remains of the monastery, or of the priory church of St Richard, situated at the west end of Southgate, near the junction of the Wakefield and Ackworth roads. Excavations have located what is thought to be the South side of the church, suggesting that the claustral complex lay to the North of the church. Foundations of other, unidentified buildings, have also been found. |
More information : [SE 45482163] Church [G.T.] (Site of). (1)
A house of Dominican Friars at Pontefract was founded in 1256 and dissolved in 1538. No trace remains of the monastery or of the priory church of St Richard, situated at the west end of Southgate, near the junction of the Wakefield and Ackworth roads. (2-3)
There are no visible remains at the published site which falls in the area of a public park. A rescue excavation, however, at SE 45672168, undertaken by Mr K Wilson, during August to October, 1963, revealed what was believed to be part of the south wall of the church. It consisted of rough sandstone foundations to a probable timber building, overlain by an assumed ashlar reinforcement for the later stone church. The wall had been cut in three places for post Dissolution burials. An abutting wall, and a further parallel wall were uncovered to the south.
It was concluded that the major buildings of the Friary lay to the north and west in areas not open to excavation. No remains exist above ground level.
Finds included mid 13th - 17th century pottery, and one sherd of late Cistercian Ware. (4) |