Picturing Pontefract: archive photos - pride - Wakefield Museums and Castles

Picturing Pontefract: archive photos - pride

One section of the Picturing Pontefract exhibition explores the topic of 'pride'.

Artists paint places and views that are interesting to them. They choose to paint things that mean something to them and their audience.

Here are a selection of archive photos that match some of the paintings in the exhibition.

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The Courthouse

The Courthouse was designed in 1807 by architect Charles Watson. He also worked on Nostell Priory and Lotherton Hall.

The Courthouse closed in 2013. It reopened as a shopping centre in 2016. It remains a Grade II listed building and an important local landmark.

This watercolour is by Derrick Hall, early 2000s. Derrick was a local artist and picture framer.

The photograph shows Pontefract Magistrates Court in the early 1990s.

On the left: a watercolour painting of an impressive Victorian yellow stone brick building with a portico-like facade above the main entrance. On the right: a photograph of the same building, the yellow stone weathered with time, taken in the 1990s.

Painting by Derrick Hall, early 2000s. Photograph from the 1990s, Wakefield Museums and Castles collection.

Municipal Building

This painting of the Pontefract Municipal building is by R.G. Heape. Heape was an architectural historian.

Pontefract architects Tennent and Smith designed the building. Local firm Brown and Lodge built it.

Percy Bentley, the mayor, laid the foundation stone in 1931. Bentley is one of only four people to have won the Military Cross four times.

The photograph shows the Pontefract Municipal Building in 1931.

On the left: a pastel coloured painting of an imposing red brick building with large windows, built in the 1930s. On the right: a photograph of the same building, showing the high accuracy of the painting.

Painting by R.G. Heape, 1930s. Photograph from 1931, Wakefield Museums and Castles collection.

Pontefract Museum

This painting is by D.S. Prudhoe, 1980. It shows Pontefract Museum just after it had opened as a museum in 1978.

From 1905 to 1975, it was the Pontefract Free Library.

The architect was George Pennington. He worked for free to ensure it was built.

Pontefract Museum is a Grade II listed building. In 2000 to 2001 the National Lottery helped pay for repairs and changes to the precinct and the museum.

The photograph is of the Pontefract Museum building in 1958. It was still Pontefract Free Library at this time. Photograph courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express.

$On the left: a boldly coloured painting of Pontefract Museum, an art nouveau building built in red brick with yellow stone features and a grey slate roof. On the right is a photograph of the same building from the 1950s, showing a car parked up outside. The area in front of Pontefract Museum is pedestrianised today.$

Painting by D.S. Prudhoe, 1980. Photograph from 1958, courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express.

All Saints’ Church Pontefract

The original All Saints’ Church was medieval. It was the parish church for Pontefract. It was badly damaged during the English Civil Wars.

By the late 1700s, the ruins were becoming unsafe. In 1831 substantial work was needed to save what was left.

A new chapel was built inside the ruins with new stained glass windows.

E Foster painted one of these windows in 1978. The window was removed in further building work in the 1980s.

The photograph shows the apse and windows in All Saints’ Church in the early 1900s.

On the left: a brightly coloured painting showing a church stained glass window featuring a design of a person. It is in shades of yellow, green, blue and red. On the right is a sepia photogrpah of All Saints' Church apse and three stained glass windows featuring images of people.

Painting by E Foster, 1978. Photograph from the early 1900s, Wakefield Museums and Castles collection.

Town Hall

The Town Hall was designed by local architect Bernard Hartley. It was built in 1785.

By the late 1800s the building was no longer big enough. The courts moved to the new Courthouse. A new Town Hall extension was built with more space.

The Old Town Hall has since been used as both a fire station and police station. Public events are still held in the impressive Nelson Room.

This quick sketch of the Old Town Hall is by Joe Clay, 1978. He was a planner for West Riding County Council.

The photograph shows Pontefract Market Place leading to the Town Hall in the 1960s.

On the left: a sketch of the Town Hall, an impressive building with three arches on the lower level and large windows on the upper level. On the right: a black and white photograph showing a similar view to the sketch, with the Town Hall building at the head of a town market place

Sketch by Joe Clay, 1978. On Loan from the Wakefield Permanent Art Collection (The Hepworth Wakefield). Photograph from the 1960s, Wakefield Museums and Castles. collection.

This is a view of the Old Town Hall and Gillygate from the Woolmarket. It was painted in 1970 by William Shone. At this time, the Woolmarket was still an open square.

Shortly afterwards, Middle Row and Church Street were demolished. Salter Row was redeveloped and extended into Woolmarket.

The photograph shows a view from Woolmarket looking towards the Town Hall in 1942.

On the left: a watercolour painting of the side of the Town Hall and a series of buildings along a street. On the right: a sepia photograph showing a very similar view to the painting, demonstrating its accuracy.

Painting by William Shone, 1970. Photograph from 1942, Wakefield Museums and Castles collection.

St Joseph's Church

William Shone painted this view of St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church between 1950 and 1980. This was before the dual carriageway was built.

The Reformation made England Protestant in the 1500s. There was briefly a Catholic church in Pontefract in the 1680s. It was destroyed in mob violence in 1688.

In 1804 Catholic supporters donated money to buy land and build a church. Mindful of previous violence, the church had no windows facing the street. The doors were also reinforced with iron.

St Joseph’s Church is a Grade II* listed building.

The photograph shows St Joseph's Church from Jubilee Way around the late 1970s.

On the left: an oil painting of a medium-sized church, with few windows facing outwards and up a series of steps. On the right: a black and white photograph of the church as seen from a busy road, showing more windows along the far side of the building.

Painting by William Shone, 1950 to 1980. Photograph from the late 1970s, Wakefield Museums and Castles collection.

Pontefract General Infirmary

This sketch is by Joe Clay, 1973. It shows the entrance to Pontefract General Infirmary. Most of the Infirmary was built in the second half of the 20th century.

The main development shown in this picture was built in the 1960s. It was designed by notorious local developer, John Poulson.

The current Pontefract Hospital opened in 2010. Much of the old General Infirmary has been demolished.

The photograph shows Harry Smith, a car park attendant, in 1988. Harry is stood in front of the main entrance to the Infirmary.

$On the left: a sketch of the main entrance to Pontefract General Infirmary as seen from the car park. It is a series of different shaped buildings. On the right: a smiling man in uniform, a blazer, trousers, shirt and tie and cap. He is stood in a hospital car park.$

Sketch by Joe Clay, 1973. On Loan from the Wakefield Permanent Art Collection (The Hepworth Wakefield). Photograph from 1988, courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express.

This exhibition is part of Our Heritage Our Stories. This is a heritage project funded by Wakefield Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. With thanks to Lottery Players.