101 Durkar Low Lane, Durkar, Wakefield. W York's. WF4 3BJ  Tel: 01924 255500 Email inthompson@yahoo.com

Pugneys Country Park (adjacent)

This lake is great for water sports enthusiasts, with activities including windsurfing, dingy sailing, canoeing, pedaloes and fishing.
Also lakeside walks, bird watching and picnicking. Open all year 9 - 9.30 pm or 1 hour before dusk (whichever is earlier). Toilets and wheelchair access. Admission into the park is free.

Bretton Country Park & Yorkshire Sculpture Park (4 mile)

Beautiful 18th Century landscaped grounds next to Bretton Lake Nature Reserve with several self-guided trails to follow. Within the Country Park is the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which presents a program of international exhibitions and a number of sculptures by locally born Henry Moore.

Sandal Castle ( 1 mile )

This motte and bailey castle dates to the 12th century and over look the site of the Battle of Wakefield, fought in 1460 when Richard, Duke of York and father of the future king Richard III was killed. After the siege of 1645, the castle was demolished on the orders of Parliament. The nursery rhyme "Oh the Grand old Duke of York" dates back to these events at Sandal Castle
Finds from recent excavations and further information about Sandal Castle can be seen at Wakefield Museum

Admission to the Castle is free

The National Mining Museum (5 miles)

Award winning museum that tells the history of coal mining, including a one hour tour of the original working 137m underground

(Visit Web Page)

The old town of Wakefield grew up around the crossroads of Westgate, Northgate and Kirkgate. In medieval times, each road had a gate that was closed every evening. The buildings, which we find along these streets today, reflect the prosperity of the town around the 18th and early 19th Centuries.

 Because of Wakefield's situation on the River Calder, it was at one stage an inland port. Wakefield was involved in the woollen industry, trading in cloth and the raw materials used in its manufacture. Grain, coal mining, brewing, rope making and boat building have all contributed to Wakefield's industrial prosperity. The St John's area still retains rows of elegant Georgian houses built in the 1790's, when Wakefield had one Yorkshire's chief grain markets.

Wakefield has had a market since 1204, and today the markets of Wakefield and surrounding district are full of character and atmosphere, with bargains for everyone. Today, Wakefield bustles with activity with an excellent pedestrianised shopping area and narrow streets and markets. Situated close to other major cities, it has direct access to the M1, A1 and M62 and intercity rail services taking less than 2 hours to reach London, King's Cross.

On the old Wakefield Bridge, is St Mary's Chantry Chapel, built in the 1340's. It is one of only four similar bridge chapels built in Britain. The Chapel was built as a resting-place for travelers. The bridge was also important economically to the people of Wakefield because it was a vital crossing point over the river and travelers paid tolls for its use.

Historically, Wakefield has been known as the "Merrie City" and has been well known for its medieval mystery plays. 

A church has been on the site of the present day Cathedral of All Saints since Roman times. The Cathedrals spire is 500 years old and its 75 metres make it the tallest in Yorkshire.