Pontefract Castle overlays the town ditch and was originally part of the royal Saxon town of Tanshelf. In the late 1080s, Ilbert de Lacy founded an earthwork motte and bailey fortress, on the site. In the 12th and 13th century, the de Lacy family founded the stone castle, which later became the principal royal castle in the North of England. This noble Plantagenet castle stands high on a ridge, with a great ditch, barbican and two stone walled outer baileys but sadly nowhere better can be seen the results of Civil War slighting. The motte was encased, with a cluster of drum towers, to form a large and powerful keep. The inner bailey curtain wall, was flanked by seven large square towers, a twin-towered gatehouse and a 15th century detached tower, at the bottom of the scarp. In the inner bailey, are the rock-cut cellars of a Norman great hall, along with the foundations of two chapels, lodgings and service buildings. 9 miles west is Sandal Castle.