What does Pontefract mean?

Asked by: Casey Marie

What does the name Pontefract mean?

The name Pontefract is taken from the Latin Pons – meaning bridge, and Fractus – meaning broken.

What was Pontefract called?

In 1090, Pontefract was originally called “Pontefracto” which means broken bridge. It is believed to be named after an Anglo-Saxon uprising against Norman rule in 1069. They broke the bridge whilst crossing the River Aire. This prevented the French from accessing York and other towns in the area.

What’s Pontefract famous for?

The top attractions to visit in Pontefract are: Pontefract Castle. Farmer Copleys. Pontefract Races.

What does the word Wakefield mean?

The name “Wakefield” may derive from “Waca’s field” – the open land belonging to someone named “Waca” or could have evolved from the Old English word wacu, meaning “a watch or wake”, and feld, an open field in which a wake or festival was held.

Why was Pontefract called Pomfret?

The Tudor historian, John Leland, claims that it was the name of a place in Normandy that belonged to the de Lacy family. But it seems certain that Pontefract takes its name from the Latin pontus fractus meaning broken bridge and was also known as Pomfret from the Norman French pont freit.

How did Castleford get its name?

The name Castleford was originally derived from a family having lived in Yorkshire, where the surname is derived from the place-name Castleford in the West Riding. The place-name is derived from the Old English terms ceaster and forda, meaning fort and ford, respectively.

Who lived in Pontefract Castle?

The de Lacys lived in the castle until the early 14th century. It was under the tenure of the de Lacys that the magnificent multilobate donjon was built.

Why is Pontefract famous for liquorice?

George Dunhill was an apothecary chemist in the family trade in Pontefract, and by adding sugar to liquorice (then a dissolvable, medicinal pastel) he created a chewable non-medicinal lozenge, inventing the sweet as we know it today.

Is Pontefract a nice place to live?

Pontefract is among the top 5 most dangerous medium-sized towns in West Yorkshire, and is among the top 20 most dangerous overall out of West Yorkshire’s 118 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Pontefract in 2021 was 119 crimes per 1,000 people.

Is Wakefield a Scottish name?

Wakefield is an English surname. Wakefield is the 1,356th most common surname in Great Britain, with 7,767 bearers. It is most common in the West Midlands, where it is the 257th most common surname, with 3,260 bearers.

How many Muslims are in Wakefield?

Demographics of Wakefield



Majority of the people in Wakefield are Christians (78.21 percent of the population), other religion includes Islam (3.14 percent), Buddhism (0.1 percent), Hindu (0.2 percent) etc. People with no religion are 11.74 percent of the population.

How old is the name Wakefield?

The surname Wakefield was first found in Yorkshire where Wachefeld, being King William’s land was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times.

Who founded Wakefield?

Wakefield was probably settled by the Angles in the 5th or 6th century and after AD 876 the area was controlled by the Vikings who founded twelve hamlets or thorpes around Wakefield. They divided the area into wapentakes and Wakefield was part of the Wapentake of Agbrigg.

Who was Wakefield MA named after?

Cyrus Wakefield

Wakefield’s roots date back to 1639 when Linn Village was established. It wasn’t until July 4, 1868 that our town took on the name Wakefield in honor of entrepreneur and rattan industry giant Cyrus Wakefield.

What is Wakefield Massachusetts famous for?

Wakefield has preserved much of its historic New England appearance and is recognized for its strong community involvement, quality school system, thriving businesses, public library, and for beautiful Lake Quannapowitt, which plays host to countless outdoor festivals and benefit activities each year.

What’s the name of the lake in Wakefield?

It is one of two large lakes in Wakefield, the other being the man-made Crystal Lake. Lake Quannapowitt is a popular setting for walkers, joggers, bikers, and in-line skaters off Route 128 in Middlesex County.

Is Wakefield MA a good place to live?

Wakefield is in Middlesex County and is one of the best places to live in Massachusetts. Living in Wakefield offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Wakefield there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.

Can you swim in Lake quannapowitt?

4 answers. There’s no swimming in lake quannapowitt.

What kind of fish are in Lake quannapowitt?

​8 Species: Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead and golden shiner. The chain pickerel and white perch dominated the sample. Tiger muskie fingerlings were stocked here on several occasions from 1978 to 1991.

Can you swim in Crystal lake Wakefield MA?

This is the Town Reservoir. It is posted everywhere, NO TRESPASS, VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED. The following is also posted: no skating, no boating, no swimming, no fishing, no ATV’s.

How long is the walk around Lake Quannapowitt?

3 mile

Lake Quannapowitt is an easy 3 mile walk around the Lake with lovely scenary surrounding the Lake. Ample parking for walkers.

Can you kayak on Lake quannapowitt?

Lake Quannapowitt is one of two main lakes in Wakefield, Massachusetts and a popular setting for kayaking, walking, jogging and biking off Route 128 in Middlesex County.

How many acres is Lake quannapowitt?

254 acres

Lake Quannapowitt is a large, shallow lake at the north end of the town of Wakefield. It covers 254 acres and is about 3.6 miles around. Its average depth is 6 feet, and its maximum depth is 11.3 feet. The Maximum length is 5,880 feet (1.1 miles), and the maximum width is 2,880 feet (0.5 miles).

Are there fish in Lake Quannapowitt?

About Lake Quannapowitt



The most popular species caught here are Largemouth bass, Yellow perch, and Common carp. 341 catches are logged on Fishbrain. Please use your best judgement when determining where you can fish, and make sure you follow local regulations.

Can you fish in Wakefield lake?

The lake is managed by the FiN Program and is stocked with Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike. Largemouth Bass over 3 lbs have also been caught. Three shore fishing stations and the fishing pier give you a place to fish without trampling vegetation and causing erosion.