Pontefract Civic Society, which hands the award, commended six other buildings and also looked outside the town centre for the first time in the history of the award.

This year’s award went to The Jewel Box in Woolmarket for the “additional distinction and colour it gives to the shaded end corner of Woolmarket and Salter Row”.

Mayor and Mayoress of Wakefield Couns Allan and Pat Garbutt presented shop owner Brent Ashall the Countess of Rosse plaque.

Society president Allan Blaza said: “This has been a good year for the quality of improvements to the town centre, and for the first time the society has looked at improvements to properties outside the immediate town centre to acknowledge the quality of new construction that has taken place.”

Certificates of commendation were also presented to Shahban Restaurant, Front Street; Finkle Fisheries, Finkle Street; Hanover Housing Association’s retirement development at De Lacy Gardens on Mill Hill Lane; LDC House learner driver centre on Stuart Road; and Central Methodist Church, for the refurbishment of the worship area.

They are pictured below from left to right.