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We chose an October evening to see what might be hidden in the castle's ancient stones and who better to accompany us than the site's custodian, Steve Coulson!

Underground @ Ponte

He explained that Pontefract Castle was once one of the most important fortresses in the land - a king was even murdered here. But, according to Steve, no-one has yet spotted the ghost of Richard II.

However, tourists visiting the castle from all parts of the world have reported the same sighting - a black monk walking from the remains of the kitchen towards the steps up to the ruins of the Queen's Tower. Strangely the monk is always seen walking from west to east, never in the opposite direction. Steve says the monk has been seen by quite a lot of people over a long period of time and they are of all ages and different backgrounds and, "When you hear it from so many people you start to believe it."

These sightings usually take place around 5pm (locking-up time in winter) and people who see the monk are usually shaking and upset. Steve adds, "When that starts happening, it makes you wonder if there is something there."

The Castle's past most comes to life during a visit to its underground magazine, built originally as the cellar for the Great Hall and later used to store gunpowder and hold prisoners during the English Civil War.

It is here that Steve had a strange experience of his own. Although he has never actually SEEN anything that could be described as strange, on one occasion returning to his office after taking a school party underground, he heard a loud knocking. Concerned he'd left someone behind (understandably!), he returned to the magazine and unlocked the door but there was nobody there. Steve learned later that a former custodian had also heard the sound of knocking coming from the magazine.

Steve says his colleague at Pontefract Castle is also convinced he once saw a shadow going down the stairs. So, we were a bit wary as we approached the magazine steps armed only with a candle. It was certainly very dark underground and we could hear a steady drip, drip, dripping of water. We held our solitary light up to look at names inscribed hundreds of years earlier by the prisoners held here during the Civil War.

Carvings @ Ponte Castle

Steve says, when it comes to people seeing things at the castle, "The majority of what I'm told is laughable." However, the castle may have another ghostly inhabitant. A girl, probably between nine and 13-years-old, with long brown hair and ragged clothes, has been seen reflected in the mirror at the visitor's centre on more than one occasion but when the spectator looks round there isn't anybody there...

And the castle's not the only spooky building in Pontefract. Victorian engineers working below what is now Pontefract General Infirmary in 1851 discovered a tiny chamber built by monks who wanted to live as hermits. It can only be reached by a spiral staircase and it even has a skeleton in the ceiling...

Find out more about Pontefract Castle right here - including our exclusive audio tour looking for those ghosts and ghouls, plus lots more on the history of the Castle - and our 360° pics!

Just click on these links to discover more:

Pontefract Castle is a scheduled ancient monument in the guardianship of Wakefield District Council although it is still the property of Her Majesty the Queen as part of the Duchy of Lancaster. Opening hours are 0830am-Dusk on weekdays and 1030am-Dusk at weekends. Admission is free.