page_title: Castleford
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Castleford / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Wheldale Colliery, Castleford: "the sunshine pit" Wheldale Colliery was the first pit to open in Castleford and the last to close, (not including Allerton Bywater just north of the town boundary). It apparently got its nickname "the sunshine pit" because if the sun shone the men went home. I worked there between 1974 to 1978 and had several of these "sunshine breaks" during that time. I can't remember when photo taken so date just a guess.
context_page_description: Castleford is a town in the metropolitan borough of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 40,210 at the 2011 Census. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to the north of the town centre the River Calder joins the River Aire and the Aire and Calder Navigation.
  The town is the site of a Roman settlement. Within the historical Castleford Borough are the suburbs of Airedale, Cutsyke, Ferry Fryston, Fryston Village, Glasshoughton, Half Acres, Hightown, Lock Lane, Townville, Wheldale and Whitwood.
  Castleford is home to the rugby league Super League team Castleford Tigers.
context_section_description: Castleford's history dates back to Roman times, archaeological evidence points to modern day Castleford being built upon a Roman army settlement which was called Lagentium (thought to mean 'The Place of the Swordsmen'). Roman funeral urns have been found in modern-day Castleford, giving further evidence to this theory. A Roman milestone was unearthed in Beancroft Road, now believed to be in Leeds City Museum.
  Queen's Park in Castleford provides evidence of Roundhouses used by the Anglo Saxons. This was a strategic area due to the views of the entire settlement. The history of the area includes Oliver Cromwell’s encampment in nearby Knottingley and Ferrybridge (originally thought to be in Castleford itself) whilst his forces laid siege to Pontefract Castle.
  In the 19th century, Castleford became a boomtown with the population growing from 1,000 to 14,000 as collieries opened around the town; however, these collieries closed in the 20th century. Ferrybridge Power Station and Kellingley Colliery have also closed (in 2015 and 2016 respectively) and used to employ Castleford residents. The newer warehouses and distribution centres in Glasshoughton have brought in many new jobs to the area.
  In 2008 Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and Channel 4 led a community regeneration scheme to redevelop Castleford.
  In February 2017 Castleford Swimming Pool closed. A new modern leisure facility including a swimming pool is proposed for nearby Pontefract Park.
caption: Wheldale Colliery was one of the town's collieries until its closure in 1985.
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