| Description | Nos. 2 6 Castle Chain, Pontefract Castle the remains of the castle's barbican, which consisted of a medieval polygonal bastion located on the approach to the former west gate. The bastion was surmounted by a building known as the Main Guard, which ran parallel with the castle approach. Pontefract Castle (PRN 2089) was slighted after the English Civil War and the Main Guard suffered some destruction as part of this. The surviving building (Nos. 2 6 Castle Chain) now largely date to the 16th/17th century, with evidence of further alterations in the 19th and 20th centuries; however some medieval fabric does survive internally.
Two houses now one, with later cottage. Of 17th century date or earlier in origin, extended during the late 18th century, and considerably altered in the late 19th century. Rusticated coursed sandstone with ashlar dressings to Castle Chain, rendered to sides and rear; plain tile roofs. Of two storeys and basement; 2:1:2:2 first floor windows. The Castle Chain elevation has three sections, representing the three addresses, all with different roof heights, the largest and tallest unit being in the centre (No 4), flanked by an original smaller unit (No 6) to the left, and a later small unit (No 2) to the right; the appearance is of a late 19th century Gothic Revival building, but some elements are authentic to some extent, for example, the round turret at the left end of the central unit contains an early spiral staircase leading down to the basement; the windows are 19th century double chamfered mullioned, with an elaborate continuous hoodmould stepped around the ground floor windows which are at many levels. Ground floor, from left: 4 light window; studded oak board door in basked arched surround with, above, coat of arms of three lions couchant; two slits in turret; 2 light window with dripmould; 3 light window; matching door with, above, original coat of arms of Duchy of Lancaster; 3 light window; added cottage with 4 panel door in chamfered triangular headed surround, 3 light window. First floor, from left: 3 and 2 light windows to No 6, the former rising as a pent roofed dormer; 2 slits to turret; two 3 light windows in main house; 2 and 3 light windows in No 2. No 4, including the turret, has a corbel table. Ridge stacks to,left of door in No 6; near left end and at right end of No 4; to right end of No 2 clay decorative ridge tiles.
Interior: basement windows to garden front are side sliding sashes and have fielded panel shutters; chamfered beams in basement ; stone spiral staircase between basement and ground floor; ground floor parlour in No 6 has early 18th century fire surround with egg and dart motif, and cornucopiae and draped centre piece to frieze; cavetto ceiling cornice; large ground floor room of No 4 has central chamfered spine beam with chamfered joists to first floor and late 16th early 17th century fireplace with Atlantes and caryatids on herms; first floor room at west end of No 4 has ashlar fireplace with four centred arch and broach stops to chamfer. A similar smaller fireplace, with mason's marks, said to exist in the loft. The roof is said to have been raised in the late 19th century, leaving the older lower roof structure.
(Text edited from English Heritage's National Heritage List of England, 1988) |