Sandal Castle

Sandal Castle's origins likely date back to the 12th century, although its first written mention is not until around 1240. William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, is considered its probable builder. The castle remained in the Warenne family's possession until their extinction in 1347, when the fortress reverted to the Crown. King Edward III, in the same year, enfeoffed his six-year-old son, Edmund of Langley, with the lands. Although Edmund was later elevated to Duke of York, his family rarely used Sandal Castle. In 1460, the castle played a central role in the Wars of the Roses when Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, claimed the throne.