Driffield
Encyclopedia
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town
and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, England
. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield
.
According to the 2001 UK census
, Driffield parish had a population of 11,477.
, on the Driffield Navigation
(canal), and near the source of the River Hull
.
Driffield lies on the A614
, A166 and B1249, and on the Yorkshire Coast rail line
from Bridlington
to Hull
. It is situated next to Little Driffield
, where King Aldfrith of Northumbria
was reputedly buried, and is also very close to Nafferton
, Hutton Cranswick
and Wansford
.
Driffield is named the Capital of the Wolds, mainly through virtue of its favourable location between Bridlington
, Beverley
and York
.
The town is served by Driffield railway station
on the Yorkshire Coast Line
.
Driffield has been covered by the HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) network for mobile telephony, commonly known as 3.5G, since mid-August 2009.
s, one larger primary school (Driffield Junior School) and a large secondary school
, known simply as Driffield School
. Driffield School contains a sixth form
, and so offers education up to A level standard. The nearest independent school
is Woodleigh School, North Yorkshire.
.
Public houses include the Original Keys (formerly the Ferret and Sprout, previously the Cross Keys), the Buck, the Full Measure, the Rose and Crown and the Mariner's Arms.
Old standbys to the town's catering services include the Water Margin and Mario's.
The town's main hotel is the Bell Hotel, an old coaching inn in the centre of the town, which has a substantial selection of whiskies. Its many facilities include the former town hall, which was bought by the hotel's owner and is now a function suite and gym/leisure centre. Recent additions (i.e. late 2006) to the town's night-time scene include The Lounge and the London Bar.
The town is home to the country's largest one-day annual agricultural show
, as well as the Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally - an event showcasing historical vehicles including traction engine
s, fairground organ
s, tractors and vintage cars. A particular focus is placed upon agricultural history, with demonstrations of ploughing and threshing
often taking place. The rally is particularly known for the Saturday evening road-run of the steam engines and other vehicles into Driffield town centre, an event which invariably attracts large crowds of spectators.
of 1086, and means 'dirty (manured) field'.
and listen for the church bells ringing in the new year.
Scrambling
This age-old tradition is unique to the town of Driffield and has its origins in the 18th century. The event takes place a couple of days into the New Year. Children walk through the main street shouting an ancient rhyme to shopkeepers in return for money and goodies.....The cry is.... "Here we are at our town end...A Bottle of rum and a crown to spend...Are we downhearted?..No!...Shall we win?...Yes!..."
The town has a cricket club in which its first team play in the ECB Yorkshire League. First class cricketers Andrew Gale
, Richard Pyrah
, Steven Patterson
and Ishara Amerasinghe
have all played for the club.
Driffield Rugby Union Football Club is a member of the RFU and Yorkshire RFU, playing its senior fixtures in North 2 East. The club fields four senior teams, a colts team and mini/juniors (at every age group from Under 7s to Under 17s) every week during the season.
Driffield has an 18-hole golf club that has been at its present location since 1934.
Driffield has recently added a new sports centre to the list of sports venues in the town, replacing the old sports centre; both are located just north of Driffield Secondary School and can be accessed via Bridlington Road instead of through the school. The new facility will include a main pool and learner pool, new sports hall, a 50-piece gym in line with the successful East Riding Leisure Tone Zone brand and a studio/multi-use room.
's band the Spiders (originally called the Hype) from 1970, was born in Driffield.
The Manchester band Happy Mondays
recorded their second album Bummed at the Slaughterhouse, a studio that has since burnt down, in Driffield in 1988.
Driffield was home to one of the finest of English 19th century woodblock colour printers, Benjamin Fawcett
, and the artist who worked for him, Alexander Francis Lydon
.
The town is twinned with Saint Affrique, France
.
RAF Driffield
was targeted by the Luftwaffe
during the Second World War. On 15 August 1940, a raid by Junkers 88s resulted in 14 deaths and many injuries.
RAF Driffield
was the site of the first death in the WAAF
during the Second World War.
The BBC
reported that "Driffield couple remarry 57 years after divorce" on 27 January 2011.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield
Little Driffield
Little Driffield is a small village in the East Riding of Yorkshire,England. It is situated on the western outskirts of Great Driffield, to the west of the A614 road and south of the A166 road. Little Driffield forms part of the civil parish of Driffield....
.
According to the 2001 UK census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, Driffield parish had a population of 11,477.
Location
Driffield lies in the Yorkshire WoldsYorkshire Wolds
The Yorkshire Wolds are low hills in the counties of East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire in northeastern England. The name also applies to the district in which the hills lie....
, on the Driffield Navigation
Driffield Navigation
The Driffield Navigation is an waterway, through the heart of the Holderness Plain to the market town of Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The northern section of it is a canal, and the southern section is part of the River Hull. Construction was authorised in 1767, and it was fully...
(canal), and near the source of the River Hull
River Hull
The River Hull is a navigable river in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the north of England. It rises from a series of springs to the west of Driffield, and enters the Humber estuary at Kingston upon Hull. Following a period when the Archbishops of York charged tolls for its use, it became a free...
.
Driffield lies on the A614
A614 road
The A614 is a main road in England running through the counties of Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.Beginning at Redhill, near Calverton in Nottinghamshire at a roundabout with the A60, the road meets the A6097 at a junction which looks like a roundabout but...
, A166 and B1249, and on the Yorkshire Coast rail line
Yorkshire Coast Line
The Yorkshire Coast Line is a railway line in northern England. It runs northwards from Hull Paragon to Bridlington and Scarborough calling at other intermediate stations.-History:...
from Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
. It is situated next to Little Driffield
Little Driffield
Little Driffield is a small village in the East Riding of Yorkshire,England. It is situated on the western outskirts of Great Driffield, to the west of the A614 road and south of the A166 road. Little Driffield forms part of the civil parish of Driffield....
, where King Aldfrith of Northumbria
Aldfrith of Northumbria
Aldfrith sometimes Aldfrid, Aldfridus , or Flann Fína mac Ossu , was king of Northumbria from 685 until his death. He is described by early writers such as Bede, Alcuin and Stephen of Ripon as a man of great learning, and some of his works, as well as letters written to him, survive...
was reputedly buried, and is also very close to Nafferton
Nafferton
Nafferton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north east of Driffield town centre and lies just south of the A614 road....
, Hutton Cranswick
Hutton Cranswick
Hutton Cranswick is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately south of Driffield town centre on the A164 road....
and Wansford
Wansford, East Riding of Yorkshire
Wansford is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, it forms part of the civil parish of Skerne and Wansford. It is situated on the B1249 road and just to the north of the River Hull and the Driffield Canal. It is approximately south east of Driffield and north west of North...
.
Driffield is named the Capital of the Wolds, mainly through virtue of its favourable location between Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
, Beverley
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
The town is served by Driffield railway station
Driffield railway station
Driffield railway station serves the town of Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Yorkshire Coast Line and is operated by Northern Rail, providing all passenger train services.-History:...
on the Yorkshire Coast Line
Yorkshire Coast Line
The Yorkshire Coast Line is a railway line in northern England. It runs northwards from Hull Paragon to Bridlington and Scarborough calling at other intermediate stations.-History:...
.
Driffield has been covered by the HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) network for mobile telephony, commonly known as 3.5G, since mid-August 2009.
Description
Driffield contains a small community hospital, small fire, police and ambulance stations, several churches - the largest being All Saints' Parish Church, whose bells were restored for the millennium - and a fairly small high street. There is also an area of parkland close to the parish church alongside the stream (Driffield Beck) that runs roughly parallel to the high street.Education
There are a two infant schoolInfant school
An Infant school is a term used primarily in the United Kingdom for school for children between the ages of four and seven years. It is usually a small school serving a particular locality....
s, one larger primary school (Driffield Junior School) and a large secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, known simply as Driffield School
Driffield School
Driffield School is a coeducational comprehensive school situated on Manorfield Road near the B1249, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.-Admissions:...
. Driffield School contains a sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
, and so offers education up to A level standard. The nearest independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
is Woodleigh School, North Yorkshire.
Economy
The local cattle market, despite former glories, closed after the 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis2001 UK foot and mouth crisis
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 caused a crisis in British agriculture and tourism. This epizootic saw 2,000 cases of the disease in farms in most of the British countryside. Over 10 million sheep and cattle were killed in an eventually successful attempt to...
.
Public houses include the Original Keys (formerly the Ferret and Sprout, previously the Cross Keys), the Buck, the Full Measure, the Rose and Crown and the Mariner's Arms.
Old standbys to the town's catering services include the Water Margin and Mario's.
The town's main hotel is the Bell Hotel, an old coaching inn in the centre of the town, which has a substantial selection of whiskies. Its many facilities include the former town hall, which was bought by the hotel's owner and is now a function suite and gym/leisure centre. Recent additions (i.e. late 2006) to the town's night-time scene include The Lounge and the London Bar.
The town is home to the country's largest one-day annual agricultural show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
, as well as the Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally - an event showcasing historical vehicles including traction engine
Traction engine
A traction engine is a self-propelled steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin tractus, meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any traction engine is to draw a load behind it...
s, fairground organ
Fairground organ
A fairground organ is a pipe organ designed for use in a commercial public fairground setting to provide loud music to accompany fairground rides and attractions...
s, tractors and vintage cars. A particular focus is placed upon agricultural history, with demonstrations of ploughing and threshing
Threshing
Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of cereal grain from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it. It is the step in grain preparation after harvesting and before winnowing, which separates the loosened chaff from the grain...
often taking place. The rally is particularly known for the Saturday evening road-run of the steam engines and other vehicles into Driffield town centre, an event which invariably attracts large crowds of spectators.
Toponymy
The place-name 'Driffield' is first attested in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086, and means 'dirty (manured) field'.
Traditions
It is also tradition for the townspeople of Driffield to congregate in the market place on New Year's EveNew Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
and listen for the church bells ringing in the new year.
Scrambling
This age-old tradition is unique to the town of Driffield and has its origins in the 18th century. The event takes place a couple of days into the New Year. Children walk through the main street shouting an ancient rhyme to shopkeepers in return for money and goodies.....The cry is.... "Here we are at our town end...A Bottle of rum and a crown to spend...Are we downhearted?..No!...Shall we win?...Yes!..."
Sport
Driffield is home to Driffield Mariners Football Club, who have won 3 Hull Sunday League titles in recent years.The town has a cricket club in which its first team play in the ECB Yorkshire League. First class cricketers Andrew Gale
Andrew Gale
Andrew William Gale is an English first-class cricketer, who plays for and captains Yorkshire County Cricket Club...
, Richard Pyrah
Richard Pyrah
Richard Michael Pyrah , known as 'Rich', is an English first-class cricketer, who currently plays for Yorkshire County Cricket Club....
, Steven Patterson
Steven Patterson
Steven Andrew Patterson is an English first-class cricketer, contracted to play for Yorkshire County Cricket Club....
and Ishara Amerasinghe
Ishara Amerasinghe
Merenna Koralage Don Ishara Amerasinghe is a Sri Lankan cricketer who attended Nalanda College Colombo. A right-arm fast-medium bowler with a side-on action, Amerasinghe was named in the 30 man provincial squad for the 2007 World Cup...
have all played for the club.
Driffield Rugby Union Football Club is a member of the RFU and Yorkshire RFU, playing its senior fixtures in North 2 East. The club fields four senior teams, a colts team and mini/juniors (at every age group from Under 7s to Under 17s) every week during the season.
Driffield has an 18-hole golf club that has been at its present location since 1934.
Driffield has recently added a new sports centre to the list of sports venues in the town, replacing the old sports centre; both are located just north of Driffield Secondary School and can be accessed via Bridlington Road instead of through the school. The new facility will include a main pool and learner pool, new sports hall, a 50-piece gym in line with the successful East Riding Leisure Tone Zone brand and a studio/multi-use room.
Trivia
Mick 'Woody' Woodmansey, drummer with David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's band the Spiders (originally called the Hype) from 1970, was born in Driffield.
The Manchester band Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
recorded their second album Bummed at the Slaughterhouse, a studio that has since burnt down, in Driffield in 1988.
Driffield was home to one of the finest of English 19th century woodblock colour printers, Benjamin Fawcett
Benjamin Fawcett
Benjamin Fawcett was one of the finest of English nineteenth century woodblock colour printers. The son of a ship's master, he was apprenticed at age 14 for seven years to William Forth, a Bridlington bookseller and printer...
, and the artist who worked for him, Alexander Francis Lydon
Alexander Francis Lydon
Alexander Francis Lydon was an English watercolour artist, illustrator and engraver of natural history and landscapes. He worked for Benjamin Fawcett the printer, to whom he had been apprenticed from an early age. He collaborated on a large number of works with the Rev...
.
The town is twinned with Saint Affrique, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
RAF Driffield
RAF Driffield
RAF Driffield was a Royal Air Force station situated near Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.Situated between Kelleythorpe and Eastburn on the A614 road, there stands an aerodrome. In recent times, it was known as Alamein Barracks and used as an Army driving school...
was targeted by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
during the Second World War. On 15 August 1940, a raid by Junkers 88s resulted in 14 deaths and many injuries.
RAF Driffield
RAF Driffield
RAF Driffield was a Royal Air Force station situated near Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.Situated between Kelleythorpe and Eastburn on the A614 road, there stands an aerodrome. In recent times, it was known as Alamein Barracks and used as an Army driving school...
was the site of the first death in the WAAF
WAAF
WAAF may refer to:*Women's Auxiliary Air Force, a British military service in World War II**Waaf, a member of the service*WAAF , a radio station licensed to Westborough, Massachusetts, United States...
during the Second World War.
The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reported that "Driffield couple remarry 57 years after divorce" on 27 January 2011.