Man with a Van Pontefract

Pontefract: what to know before moving day

The major streets carry the Danish 'gate' ending, such as Southgate, Bondgate and North and South Baileygate, and the centre has Market Place, Woolmarket, Cornmarket, Salter Row and Horsefair. Market days are Wednesday and Saturday, with a smaller market on Fridays and a covered market open every day but Sunday. For a move in the middle of town on a market day, ask for an early or late slot.

Carleton, to the south, has Carleton High School and the rugby union ground on Moor Lane; Chequerfield Road and Willow Park appear on the map nearer the centre; and the former Prince of Wales Colliery, which closed in 2002, is now a large housing estate named after it, near the Pontefract Collieries ground off Beechnut Lane. The hospital moved to a new building on Friarwood Lane in 2010.

Pontefract has three stations. Monkhill is on the line to Leeds and also has Grand Central trains between Bradford Interchange and London King's Cross; Tanshelf is the most central; and Baghill is on the York to Sheffield line. Liquorice is still made here, in factories run by Haribo and Valeo Confectionery.

How the van gets to Pontefract

From Bradford the van joins the M62 by the M606 and heads east, leaving at junction 32 for Castleford or junction 33 for Knottingley. The A1 is reached at Darrington, south-east of town. Inside Pontefract the A645 runs along Wakefield Road, Southgate and Bondgate, and the A639, which comes in from Castleford, also runs along Front Street, Mill Hill Road and Ackworth Road.

The drive from Bradford is roughly 35 to 50 minutes. That is an estimate from route data, not a timed run, and traffic changes it.

Also covered around Pontefract

Carleton, Chequerfield, Monkhill, Willow Park, Eastbourne, Harewood Park, Lady Balk, Marl Pits, New Town.

Services for Pontefract

Each service below links to its Castleford page, which covers how the job works in and around Castleford.

House Removals Flat & Apartment Removals Student Removals Furniture & Large Item Transport Sofa & Bed Delivery Appliance Delivery Same-Day Courier Business Deliveries Marketplace & eBay Collection Packing Service Long Distance & Nationwide

Pontefract: questions before you book

Which Pontefract station is nearest my new home?

Monkhill has the direct Grand Central trains to Bradford Interchange, Tanshelf is the most central and nearest the racecourse, and Baghill is on the York to Sheffield line. Moving furniture is a road job either way.

Is Pontefract run by its own town council?

No. Pontefract has no parish or town council of its own: it is an unparished part of the City of Wakefield, and Wakefield Council runs the town's services.