Horsefair flats

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George Wright House with Luke Williams House behind George Wright House with Luke Williams House behind, Horsefair flats, Pontefract (7th March 2022).jpg
George Wright House with Luke Williams House behind

The Horsefair flats are a complex of medium and high rise maisonettes and flats in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. The scheme was approved in 1956 and designed by John Poulson. [1] The blocks were refurbished in 1999. [2]

Contents

Layout

Plan of the Horsefair flats Horsefair flats Pontefract 2.jpg
Plan of the Horsefair flats

The complex lies between Horsefair and Southgate. Luke Williams House forms the central block and can be accessed from Horsefair via the Horsefair Precinct which has a small number of shops within. At eight storeys high George Wright House is the second tallest block and is situated between Luke Williams House and Southgate. There are eleven blocks in total compromising flats and maisonettes; mostly deck access. Luke Williams House has a community room. There is a small precinct connecting the complex with Horsefair, containing four retail units.

Today

Lewis Walsh House showing abandoned properties Lewis Walsh House, Horsefair flats, Pontefract (7th March 2022) 002.jpg
Lewis Walsh House showing abandoned properties

The complex is largely unchanged since refurbishment in 1999. Ownership of the complex has since been transferred to WDH. The housing association have since ceased to issue new lets in Lewis Walsh House with many maisonettes now vacant.

Other

Luke Williams House is used for high-rise fire training by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. [3]

2024 partial demolition proposals

In 2024 a proposal wast put forward to demolish some of the low rise maisonette blocks to the eastern side of the development, which includes Warren House, Silkstone House, Francis Lane House and Voilet Pritahcard House reducing the overall block numbers from ten to six. [4]

References

  1. "Tower Block - Horsefair". University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  2. "T Re-roofing; external repair & decoration - Horsefair (Lewis Walsh House/Thomas Hill House/Violet Pritchard House) Pontefract". Wakefield Council. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  3. "Firefighters team up with housing association for training exercise at tower block". Wakefield Express. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  4. "Empty block of flats in Pontefract could be demolished and replaced by new building with roof terrace". Wakefield Express. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2025.