Pontefract Town Hall

Pontefract Town Hall is a building with Jacobean architecture, marked by red brick walls, sandstone decorations, and a steep Welsh slate roof on Bridge Street. Inside are two main spaces: the Nelson Room for up to 30 people and the Assembly Hall accommodating 120 guests.

The building was constructed in 1785 by local surveyor Bernard Hartley and served as the meeting place for Pontefract Borough Council until 1974. Its completion marked an important moment in the development of civic administration in this region.

The Nelson Room displays an original plaster cast frieze created for Nelson's Column in London's Trafalgar Square. This artwork stands in the historic hall today, linking this provincial town to the capital's cultural heritage.

Visitors enter through the central entrance hall and can access the first floor where the galleried assembly room features decorative panels and an arched ceiling. It is helpful to allow time to explore both spaces and appreciate the architectural details and artistic furnishings throughout.

The building houses one of the few surviving plaster casts directly connected to one of London's most famous monuments. This rare link between a small Yorkshire town and one of Britain's most important sculptural works makes this a notable place for art enthusiasts.