**Sandal Castle Visitor Centre Closure**

Sandal Castle Visitor Centre is to close temporarily until essential maintenance and improvements have been completed and staff vacancies can be filled.

The Visitor Centre will be open until 4.30pm on Sunday 22 November.

Sandal Castle itself is going to remain open so visitors can still enjoy walks around the cultural site. It is hoped the visitor centre will reopen early next year.

Sandal Castle stands in a commanding position overlooking the River Calder. 

The castle is best known for the famous Battle of Wakefield which was fought nearby in 1460 during the Wars of the Roses. Richard, Duke of York was killed in the battle.

During the English Civil War in the 1640s Sandal Castle was besieged twice by Parliamentary forces.  Afterwards, it was stripped of its defences.  

Remains of the 13th century stone castle and the fine motte and bailey can be seen on site.  Visitors can climb to the top of the motte where they are treated to superb views of the Calder Valley.   

The castle has been extensively excavated and finds can be seen in the Visitor Centre and at nearby Wakefield Museum, located on Wood Street, Wakefield.