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Wakefield Museums and Castles
The decline of Sandal Castle
After the defeat of Richard III, Sandal Castle fell into decay.
The progress of its decaying can be seen in building surveys of the castle. The surveys undertaken in 1538, 1545 and 1565-1566 are very detailed. They list parts of the castle building by building and the extent of the repairs needed.
There is an increasing amount of work needed to be done in each survey.
A Victorian postcard from Sandal Castle, based upon an Elizabethan survey drawing
From about 1600, Sandal Castle seems to have been completely unoccupied.
It was briefly re-fortified by a Royalist garrison in 1645 during the English Civil Wars. The occupation lasted only a few months. The castle surrendered on 1 October 1645.
In 1646 on the orders of Parliament the castle was stripped of its defences.
The heap of stonework that was left quickly became overgrown. The masonry that did survive was revealed during the excavations in 1964 - 1973.
Artist's impression of three medieval pots found at Sandal Castle
Archaeological finds at Wakefield Museum
Sandal Castle was excavated during the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the finds are on display at Wakefield Museum.
The finds include a 500-year-old Sandal Castle love ring. It has the romantic inscription ‘I’m all yours’ in medieval French.