Last November, a new group was set up which aims to promote Sandal Castle as an important historical site, and to encourage activities which benefit and help to preserve this important historical site.

The Friends of Sandal Castle had their First Annual General Meeting on Saturday December 3rd. at 3pm in the Information Centre at the Castle. The speaker from the Pontefract Castle friends was Janet McNaught a Field Archaeologist. Her talk was followed by a short formal meeting, and and a discussion on how the Sandal Friends may best protect the Heritage of the Castle.

The Anniversary of the death of Richard the third Duke of York was marked on New Years Eve, with the presence of the Towton Battlefields Group, and members of the Frei Compagnie who held a 'Show and Tell' at the Information Centre, where the Friends of Sandal Castle hosted the event. Present at the Memorial were members of the Richard iii society, and also members of the Wakefield Historical Society, whose members in 2010 held a successful Pontefract to Fotheringhay walk to mark the 550th anniversary of the Duke's death.

Members of the Frei Compagnie Company	Dr. K. Souter and Alan Stringer A speaker secured for our July 2012 meeting	Friends member Carole speaks with Helen Cox	A section of the spectators More than 300 people attended the event on 31 December	A Fine Day brought out the crowds to this historic site

Plans for 2012 include a visit on Saturday 31st. March, from the well known food historian Peter Brears, who will speak on "Food at the Castle during the Siege"

New members are welcome, and an application form may be downloaded here.  F of SC Membership.pdf

We are grateful to Richard Taylor for this montage of views of Sandal Castle. Please click on any view to enlarge.
 

WMDC have produced a short information leaflet about Sandal Castle, which may be downloaded here.
Sandal Castle Leaflet.pdf

Local author Dr Keith Souter writes historical fiction details of his work may be found at  http://www.keithsouter.co.uk/page_999074.html

Local historian Helen Cox has a website at  http://helencox-herstorywriting.co.uk/#