Wakefield Museums and Castles

Take in the views

Sandal Castle has commanding views over the Calder Valley. Look out over the whole of Wakefield.

On a clear day, you can see as far as Castle Hill in Huddersfield.

See how the castle changes with the seasons

Sandal Castle looks spectacular in all seasons.

Admire its majesty in the snow. Spot rainbows and springtime blooms. Look out over the autumn leaves in the trees around Wakefield.

Discover the unusual inner barbican

The barbican at Sandal is very unusual for an English castle because it isn’t on the outside. Instead, it is between the bailey and the keep.

Much of the later stone castle was designed by John De Warrene, 7th Earl of Surrey.

John was probably inspired by the castles he saw whilst he was in France. 

Explore the 'dry' moat

Most English actually castles had dry moats. There is an easy way to tell which a castle had.

Deep steep sides like at Sandal means it was a dry moat.

A wide shallow moat would be designed to hold water. 

Though if you visit us in winter, you will see a 'dry' moat isn’t always dry!

See the remains of 'Richard's' tower

Richard III was the last king of Medieval England. Henry Tudor succeeded him after defeating him at the Battle of Bosworth.

Richard spent much of his youth at Sandal Castle. His main landholdings in the North were very rural. So, Richard needed a base closer to civilisation. Sandal Castle fitted the bill. 

Richard ordered the remodelling of one of the towers, the one closest to the centre of Wakefield. The tower has a more angular design, as was the fashion at the time. 

It also has a damaged stone which is potentially the result of a cannonball hitting it in the English Civil Wars.

Read about history where it happened

Delve deeper into Sandal Castle's history with our handy information boards.

Read about one of the most important events in the Wars of the Roses. 

Impress your friends and family with your new favourite facts!

You can also read our comic about The Battle of Wakefield.