Pontefract’s liquorice history to feature on BBC television

Newspaper: Pontefract & Castleford Express.
Story: BBC's Countryfile films in Pontefract for an episode about liquorice. Presenter John Craven is pictured with Tom Dixon.
Photo date: 24/09/15
Picture Ref: AB230c0915 — Newspaper: Pontefract & Castleford Express. Story: BBC's Countryfile films in Pontefract for an episode about liquorice. Presenter John Craven is pictured with Tom Dixon. Photo date: 24/09/15 Picture Ref: AB230c0915

Camera crews from the show filmed at former liquorice factory worker and historian Tom Dixon’s house on Thursday.

The show will feature how liquorice came to Pontefract, how a Pontefract Cake is made and the Dixon family’s history with the crop.

Mr Dixon, of Knottingley Road, said: “The filming went very well.

“It is quite a coup for Pontefract to be featured on national television and the producers said it should lead to more visitors and interest.”

Countryfile presenter John craven spoke to Mr Dixon about the history of the crop in the town and its importance to Pontefract’s economy.

Mr Dixon said he also spoke about the area’s former liquorice factories.

Wilkinson’s was the first to open in Pontefract in 1884 and by the 1920s there were ten factories.

The factories employed more than 1,000 people and around 70per cent of the labour force were women as they were cheaper and, at the time, a lot of men were miners.