Pontefract was referred to as "Pomfret". William Shakespeare's play "Richard III" mentions the castle:<br> Pomfret is referred to in Shakespeare's Richard II also My lord, the mind of Bolingbroke is changed:You must to Pomfret, not unto the Tower.And, madam, there is order ta'en for you;With all swift speed you must away to France Pontefract suffered throughout the English Civil War. In 1648–49 the castle was laid under siege by Oliver Cromwell, who said it was "... one of the strongest inland garrisons in the kingdom." Three sieges by the Parliamentarians left the town "impoverished and depopulated". In March 1649, after the
Honour of Pontefract Honour of Pontefract The Honour of Pontefract, otherwise known as the Feudal Barony of Pontefract, is a medieval English feudal barony which has existed since 1068 in present-day West Yorkshire. The honour was first granted to Ilbert de Lacy, 1st Baron Pontefract by William the Conqueror following his participation in the Harrying of the North. His son Robert supported Robert Curthose and was banished, the Honour being transferred to a Henry Traverse. Traverse himself was murdered three days later, and the barony changed hands again to Hugh de la Val. The de Lacy family were restored as Barons during the