What is Sandal Castle?

Located in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Sandal Castle is a ruined medieval fortress with deep ties to English royal history and civil war.

Name origin: “Sandal” derives from the Old Scandinavian sandr (“sand/gravel”) + healh (“meadow”).

Origins and Architecture

The site was first fortified by William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey. He was granted the Sandal estates around 1107 and built the original timber motte-and-bailey fortress atop a 10m artificial mound.

Under Hamelin de Warenne and his descendants, the timber defences were replaced by stone, with a new barbican, stone keep, great hall, kitchen, stables and inner moat added by the late 1200s.

War of the Roses - Battle of Wakefield (30 Dec 1460)

Richard, Duke of York, used the castle as his winter base. He led his army out from its gates to confront a Lancastrian force, only to be overwhelmed and killed nearby.

His head (and those of his son Edmund, Earl of Rutland, and Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury) were displayed on Micklegate Bar in York - Richard's on a pike with a paper crown placed upon it.

English Civil War (1645)

Briefly reused by Royalist forces, the castle was partially demolished (“slighted”) after Parliamentarian capture, contributing to its ruined state today. Parliament ordered it largely demolished to prevent further military use.

Royal Connections

Royal ownership (post-1347): After the de Warenne line ended in 1347, Sandal passed to Edward III, who granted it to Edmund of Langley, Duke of York.

Richard III's enhancements (1484-85): He added a polygonal tower and bakehouse to reinforce its northern role, though work ceased after his defeat at Bosworth in 1485.

Why should you visit Sandal Castle?

Sandal Castle is a brilliant piece of history in the West Yorkshire area. Standing on the castle grounds lets you walk through a turning point in English history, with stunning views over the Calder Valley that add to the experience.