Wakefield can be found directly in the center of the UK and is a quick two hour train ride from Edinburgh and London as well as a three hour ride from Manchester. The history of the town is rich and extensive. Wakefield is able to trace its history back to the Roman times. It was during this time that a church was constructed there. The church later became the Cathedral Church of All Saints in the 14th century. The Cathedral dominates the center of the town with its 75 meter tall, 500 year old spire that is Yorkshire's highest.

The original settlement of Wakefield was founded on the hill that over looks the Calder river. The town grew around the crossroads of its main streets which are Westgate, Kirkgate and Northgate. The Domesday Book mentions it in 1086 but with the name of Wacafeld. It is rumored that the area held an ancient festival. The trade center gave the town its initial prosperity. It started as a cloth and grain port for the inland but developed quickly. By the 13th century it was the home of a booming market that gave the area's weavers an opportunity to sell their wares as well as purchase more materials.

On a statuesque position that overlooks River Calder sits Sandal Castle, which is just outside Wakefield. The Battle of Wakefield was found in 1460 during the Wars of the Roses. Killed at the battle, among many others, was Richard, Duke of York. In the 1640s, during the English Civil War, the castles were twice taken over by Parliamentary forces and later stripped of defenses.

Wakefield changed, as did many towns in the north of England, drastically when the Industrial Revolution came around. The main boom coming from coal. While mining was not new to the town due to the mining of gold by Cistercian monks during the 12th century. Although coal mining took over the town in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Dialling the UK from Abroad

To dial the telephone and fax numbers shown from outside the UK, dial your international access code (check with your telecoms provider if you do not know what to dial), then 44, then the rest of the number except the zero shown in brackets.

Guest House & Hotel Owners

If you run a hotel, guest house or bed & breakfast and would like to be included in 4Hotels.co.uk's Hotel & Guest House Directory, please e-mail info@4hotels.co.uk.

Other accommodation close to Wakefield: