The first castle at Pontefract was constructed in the 12th century, however, this would have been a timber structure. A Guard House built in a similar manner was erected at or about the same time. 

One source claims that the original Guard House was built around 1150 and this seems a reasonable hypothesis. 

The present stone structure dates back to the 14th century. The cellars have been archaeologically dated to this period. It was at that time referred to as the Guard House to the Castle. 

The upper stories have been frequently and substantially altered in the intervening 700 years or so of the building’s existence. There are a number of Tudor fireplaces remaining in situ. 

Tree ring dating on 25 of the extant timbers gives dates from 1507-1656. This implies that there were major alterations made in the early Tudor period, and again just after the Civil War. Documents exist which show that the Guard House was specifically excluded from the post Cromwellian destruction of the Castle.

A Coat of Arms on the front of the old guard house is that of the 2nd Duke of Lancaster who was beheaded in 1322. This should indicate a date for the whole building, however, the whole front face is known to have been replaced by the Victorians; the turret was added at the same time. There are in fact two such coats of arms on the front of the building today. One looks fairly modern, the other seems to be much more ancient, which leads one to believe that the more modern one is a Victorian copy and the older one is an original which was re attached to the building when the Victorians re faced it. 

In 1649 Just after the Civil War, the old Guard House was converted into a debtors prison, (said to be the first debtors prison in England). Debtors were held on the upper floors. The basement held felons. 

In 1780 French prisoners of war were held there? Unfortunately this is recorded on a plaque outside the building as Napoleonic Prisoners of war. This is incorrect the Napoleonic wars date 1803-1815). In 1780 Napoleon was only 11 years old. The prisoners are more likely to have been from the Anglo-French Wars, which date from 1778-1783. 

In 1901 the building became the headquarters of the York and Lancaster regiment. They left in 1914.

From it’s construction up to 1930, the building had been the property of The Duchy of Lancaster.

Around this time it was sold to a Pontefract businessman, Mr Farr. He was an antiques dealer and turned the property into an antiques shop. (One source claims the property was made into an antiques shop in 1920, this may be true, Mr Farr may have initially rented and later purchased).What is certain is that by 1930 the house was operating as an antiques shop and the owner Mr Farr had begun extensive alterations.