Birthplace of Britain's Oldest Sweet

Who knew that liquorice sweets were born here in Pontefract! The perennial herb came from the mid-east in medieval times, and the runners (part of the root system) were used for medicinal purposes. The soil here is rich, deep and loamy, which is perfect for growing the herb. In the 1700s liquorice garths (fields or plots) sprang up all over town.

In the 1760s, George Dunhill, an apothecary, tried adding sugar to the medicine, and the liquorice sweet was born. Pontefract Cakes are round, soft but chewy, and stamped with a castle shape. They as well as other candies are still made by the Haribo factory in town. We bought some, and even though I normally don't like liquorice, I do like these!Read more