Driffield

File:Driffield00.jpg

Driffield is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and the name is first attested in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle where King Aldfrith of Northumbria died on 14 December 705.Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Peterborough Manuscript (E), 706, translated and edited by Michael Swanton, (1996), p. 41 It is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086,{{OpenDomesday|OS=TA0257|name=great-driffield|display=Great Driffield}} meaning "dirty (manured) field".{{cite book |last1=Ekwall |first1=Eilert |author-link=Eilert Ekwall |title=The concise Oxford dictionary of English place-names |date=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |oclc=1228215388 |page=151 |edition=4}}{{sfn|Harrison|2002|p=97}}

A Bronze Age mound outside Driffield was excavated in the 19th century, the contents of which are now kept in the British Museum. It includes a knife, a dagger, a beaker and a greenstone wrist-guard all dating to between 2200 and 1500 BC.{{sfn|Harrison|2002|pp=18–29}}

The remains of Driffield Castle, a motte-and-bailey castle, sit at Moot Hill.{{NHLE|num=1015612|desc=Moot Hill motte and bailey castle, and site of a medieval moated manor, Driffield |access-date=13 August 2017}}{{sfn|Harrison|2002|p=79}}

RAF Driffield was targeted by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. On 15 August 1940, a raid by Junkers Ju 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 town is a major part of the Driffield and Rural electoral ward. This ward stretches north-west to Sledmere with a total population taken at the 2011 Census of 15,199.{{NOMIS2011|id=1237321350|title=Driffield and Rural Ward (as of 2011)|access-date=26 October 2018}} It is part of the Bridlington and the Wolds constituency for elections to Westminster.{{cite web |date=23 May 2024 |title=The new Hull and East Riding constituencies for the general election following boundary shake-up |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hull-east-riding-constituencies-general-150618373.html |access-date=13 July 2024 |website=Yahoo News }} Driffield Town Hall is no longer used for public events and was acquired by The Bell Hotel in 1986.{{cite web|url=https://driffieldtowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Town-Trail-publisher-V3.pdf |title=Town Trail|publisher=Driffield Town Council|access-date=22 July 2023}}

==Culture and amenities==

File:Driffield, Market Place 1992 - geograph.org.uk - 4431273.jpgDriffield is centred around Middle Street, its main high street of both independent and chain shops and retail. On a Thursday, a market is held in the town centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.welcometodriffield.co.uk/about-driffield/about-the-town/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103164448/http://www.welcometodriffield.co.uk/about-driffield/about-the-town/|archive-date=3 November 2017|title=About the Town |work=Welcome to Driffield|access-date=11 August 2017}} Its original cattle market closed in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/market-forces-and-a-family-tradition-1-2374333|title=Market forces and a family tradition|work=Yorkshire Post|access-date=10 August 2017}}

File:Driffield Showground - geograph.org.uk - 918610.jpg

The town is home to Driffield Show, the United Kingdom’s largest one-day annual agricultural show,{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/country-life/driffield-show-revels-in-the-heat-at-144th-edition-1-9883789|title=Driffield Show revels in the heat at 144th edition|work=Yorkshire Post|date=17 July 2019|access-date=12 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.welcometodriffield.co.uk/what-s-on/driffield-show/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812212727/http://www.welcometodriffield.co.uk/what-s-on/driffield-show/|archive-date=12 August 2017|title=Driffield Show |work= Welcome to Driffield |access-date=12 August 2017}} as well as the Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally – an event held each August{{cite web|url=http://www.driffieldvintagerally.co.uk/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629010634/http://www.driffieldvintagerally.co.uk/|archive-date=29 June 2017|title=Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally|work=Driffield Vintage Rally|access-date=10 August 2017}} showcasing historical vehicles including traction engines, fairground organs, tractors and vintage cars and trucks. A particular focus is placed upon agricultural history, with demonstrations of ploughing and threshing often taking place. The rally is particularly known{{cite web|url=http://www.driffieldshow.co.uk/driffield-steam-vintage-rally.html|title=Driffield Steam & Vintage Rally|last=WDYUK|publisher=Driffield Show|access-date=12 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/news/steam-rally-road-run-changes-1-5892055|title=Steam rally road run changes|work=Bridlington Free Press|access-date=12 August 2017}} 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.

Driffield also has a small community hospital (known as Alfred Bean Hospital), a fire station, a local police station, and several churches.

File:Canal Head Driffield.jpg

Driffield lies in the Yorkshire Wolds, on the Driffield Navigation canal, and near the source of the River Hull. This is maintained by the Driffield Navigation Trust and the group hosts an annual raft race and open day gala at the River Head.{{cite web|url=http://driffieldnavigationtrust.org/index.htm|title=Driffield Navigation Trust|access-date=14 September 2018}}

The Driffield Beck runs roughly parallel to the main high street. Some stretches of Driffield Beck are popular for fishing, particularly for brown trout and grayling.{{cite web|url=http://www.mulberry-whin.com/about/|title=About Mulberry Whin Chalkstream Flyfishing – Mulberry Whin Chalkstream Flyfishing|access-date=13 August 2017}}

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There are two infant schools (Driffield Northfield Infant School{{cite web|url=http://www2.eastriding.gov.uk/learning/schools-colleges-and-academies/find-your-nearest-school/?entryid73=100334&q=0%7eDriffield%7e&aps=18521275%7e%5bMV%5dCATCHMENTSEARCH%3dFalse%7e|title=Driffield Northfield Infant School|publisher=East Riding of Yorkshire Council|access-date=11 August 2017}} and Driffield Church Of England

Voluntary Controlled Infant School{{cite web|url=http://www2.eastriding.gov.uk/learning/schools-colleges-and-academies/find-your-nearest-school/?entryid73=100332&q=0%7eDriffield%7e&aps=18521275%7e%5bMV%5dCATCHMENTSEARCH%3dFalse%7e|title=Driffield CE VC Infant School|publisher=East Riding of Yorkshire Council|access-date=11 August 2017}}), and one larger junior school (Driffield Junior School), which caters for children aged 7–11.{{cite web|url=http://www.driffieldjuniorschool.co.uk/our-school/general-information|title=Driffield Junior School – General Information|publisher=Driffield Junior School|access-date=11 August 2017}} Driffield School & Sixth Form is a large secondary school that also contains a sixth form, and so offers education up to A level standard.{{cite web|url=http://www.driffieldschool.net/index.php|title=Home|publisher=Driffield School|access-date=11 August 2017}} The town also includes Kings Mill Special School.{{cite web|url=http://www.kingsmillschool.co.uk|title=Kings Mill Special School|publisher=Kings Mill School|access-date=11 August 2017}} The nearest independent school is Pocklington School.

File:Northern158902 at Driffield station.jpg

Driffield lies on the A614, A166 and B1249.

The town is served by Driffield railway station on the Yorkshire Coast Line, with services currently run by Northern and has direct trains to Sheffield, Doncaster, York, Hull, Beverley, Bridlington, and Scarborough.

East Yorkshire Motor Services provide regular services to Hull, Pocklington, Beverley, Bridlington, and Scarborough.{{cite web|url = http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnshowl.asp?L1=DRI0040|title =Driffield|access-date = 24 October 2007|date = 3 September 2007|publisher=CarlBerry.co.uk}}

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File:All Saints Church Driffield 2.jpg

There are nine churches in Driffield, which work together as 'Churches Together in Driffield'.{{cite web|url=http://together.ourchurchweb.org.uk/driffield/about/about/|title=Churches Together: Churches Together in Driffield – About Us|website=together.ourchurchweb.org.uk|access-date=20 September 2021}}

The Anglican church dedicated to All Saints was designated a Grade I listed building in 1963 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.{{National Heritage List for England|num=1083378|desc=Church of All Saints|access-date=12 August 2013}} St Mary's church is within the same benefice as All Saints but actually sits in neighbouring Little Driffield.{{cite web|url=http://www.revivechurch.co.uk/home/driffield/|title=Revive Church – Driffield|website=www.revivechurch.co.uk|access-date=12 August 2017}} (There was once a second Anglican Church in Driffield itself, dedicated to Saint John and located on St Johns Road, but it has been demolished.{{cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/5fb109bf-fbd0-4883-a505-377d372a2a2d|title=The Discovery Service|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=12 August 2017}})

There is a small Roman Catholic Church dedicated to Our Lady and Saint Edward that was built in 1886.{{cite web|url=https://driffieldcatholicchurch.org.uk/about/history/|title=History|date=6 September 2011|publisher=Driffield Catholic Church|access-date=11 August 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625125802/https://driffieldcatholicchurch.org.uk/about/history/|archivedate=25 June 2014}} The Methodist Church stands on Middle Street North.{{cite web|url=http://www.driffieldmethodists.org.uk/welcome.htm|title=Welcome – Driffield Methodist Church|publisher=Driffield Methodist Church|access-date=11 August 2017}} The former 1880 building,{{cite web |title=Genuki: GREAT DRIFFIELD: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1892. |url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/ERY/GreatDriffield/GreatDriffield92 |website=www.genuki.org.uk |access-date=30 April 2020 }} was demolished in November 2018 and replaced by a modern building.{{cite web|url=https://www.methodist.org.uk/media/21240/new-beginnings-dmc.pdf|title=New Church in Driffield, East Yorkshire|publisher=The Methodist Church|access-date=20 September 2021}} Bourne Methodists is a Primitive Methodist Church, sited on Westgate.{{cite web|url=http://together.ourchurchweb.org.uk/driffield/churches/churches/|title=Churches Together: Churches Together in Driffield – Churches|website=together.ourchurchweb.org.uk|access-date=12 August 2017}} The Salvation Army have a building on The Mount.{{cite web|url=http://www.pocklingtonpost.co.uk/news/salvation-army-tea-party-for-church-funds-in-driffield-east-yorkshire-1-4881212|title=Salvation Army Tea party for church funds in Driffield, East Yorkshire|work=Pocklington Post|access-date=12 August 2017}}

Driffield Christian Fellowship is an Elim Pentecostal church who have a building on Wansford Road. Their church service is held in the Performing Arts Hall at Driffield School.{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/driffieldchristianfellowship/home/about-us/finding-us|title=Finding Us – Driffield Christian Fellowship|website=sites.google.com|access-date=12 August 2017}} The Congregational Church is situated on Exchange Street.{{cite web|url=https://www.congregational.org.uk/find-a-church/church-finder/85/driffield|title=Driffield – North East – Find a Church – Congregational Federation|website=www.congregational.org.uk|access-date=12 August 2017}} The Revive Church meets in the Community Centre on Mill Street.

The age-old tradition of Scrambling 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's end...With a shoulder of mutton and a crown to spend...Are we downhearted?..No!...Shall we win?...Yes!..."{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/humberside/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9337000/9337436.stm|title=Driffield's scrambling tradition draws the crowds|work=BBC News|access-date=10 August 2017}}

It is also tradition for the townspeople of Driffield to congregate in the market place on New Year's Eve and listen for the church bells ringing in the new year.

The climate in Driffield is warm and temperate, with higher than average rainfall. This climate is considered to be Cfb according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. In Driffield, the average annual temperature is 9.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 719 mm.{{cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/europe/united-kingdom/england/driffield-8624/|title=Driffield climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Driffield weather averages |website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=26 October 2018}}

{{Weather box

|location = Climate data for Driffield

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Feb high C = 5.8

|Mar high C = 8.2

|Apr high C = 10.7

|May high C = 14.0

|Jun high C = 16.8

|Jul high C = 19.6

|Aug high C = 19.7

|Sep high C = 16.6

|Oct high C = 12.4

|Nov high C = 8.4

|Dec high C = 5.8

|year high C = 12.0

|Jan low C = 0.6

|Feb low C = 0.6

|Mar low C = 1.9

|Apr low C = 3.4

|May low C = 6.0

|Jun low C = 8.6

|Jul low C = 10.9

|Aug low C = 11.0

|Sep low C = 9.4

|Oct low C = 6.6

|Nov low C = 3.4

|Dec low C = 1.0

|year low C = 5.3

|Jan record low C = -5

|Feb record low C = -9

|Mar record low C = -6

|Apr record low C = -3

|May record low C = 1

|Jun record low C = 2

|Jul record low C = 5

|Aug record low C = 5

|Sep record low C = -1

|Oct record low C = -4

|Nov record low C = -8

|Dec record low C = -11

|year record low C = -11

|Jan precipitation mm = 65.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 51.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 56.8

|Apr precipitation mm = 58.9

|May precipitation mm = 49.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 69.8

|Jul precipitation mm = 58.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 64.1

|Sep precipitation mm = 62.9

|Oct precipitation mm = 68.4

|Nov precipitation mm = 74.0

|Dec precipitation mm = 71.0

|year precipitation mm = 751.1

|Jan precipitation days = 13.0

|Feb precipitation days = 10.7

|Mar precipitation days = 11.0

|Apr precipitation days = 10.0

|May precipitation days = 9.6

|Jun precipitation days = 10.5

|Jul precipitation days = 9.9

|Aug precipitation days = 10.6

|Sep precipitation days = 9.4

|Oct precipitation days = 12.0

|Nov precipitation days = 13.3

|Dec precipitation days = 12.4

|year precipitation days = 132.3

|Jan sun = 52.3

|Feb sun = 76.6

|Mar sun = 110.0

|Apr sun = 149.5

|May sun = 198.8

|Jun sun = 179.1

|Jul sun = 191.9

|Aug sun = 178.4

|Sep sun = 139.4

|Oct sun = 104.8

|Nov sun = 64.4

|Dec sun = 46.6

|year sun = 1491.7

|source 1 = Met Office{{cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcxejzqqe|title=Driffield climate|publisher=Met Office|access-date=26 October 2018}}

}}

Driffield was formerly home to Driffield Mariners Football Club, who have won three Hull Sunday League titles in recent years. Now to this present day, there are two main men's team who both play at the second highest league in the East Riding. Driffield Junior Football Club and Driffield Evening Institute who both play in the Humber Premier League Division One. Driffield also has its own football league, Driffield and District League and was founded in 1919 and currently only has 1 division which consists of 9 teams from within Driffield and district.

The town has a cricket club, the first team of which play in the ECB Yorkshire Premier League North. First class cricketers Andrew Gale, Richard Pyrah, Steven Patterson, Jonny Bairstow, Ishara Amerasinghe and Abid Ali have all played for the club.

Driffield RUFC is a member of the RFU and Yorkshire RFU, playing its senior fixtures in the Regional 1 North East and Women's Championship North 2 leagues. The club field five senior teams (four men's and a women's), a colts team (both boys and girls) and mini/juniors (at every age group from under 7's to under 17's).{{cite web|title=Driffield RUFC|url=http://www.driffieldrufc.co.uk |publisher=Driffield Rugby Union Football Club|accessdate=22 October 2013}}

Driffield Hockey Club play their home matches at Driffield Sports Centre and currently field three men's teams and four ladies' teams, as well as juniors and vets sections.{{cite web|url=http://www.driffieldhockey.co.uk|title=Driffield Hockey Club|access-date=21 February 2014}} For a catchment area the size of Driffield, the club is relatively successful, with both the men's and ladies first XIs being promoted from their respective YHA Yorkshire Premier Divisions at the end of the 2013–14 season (6th tier of English Hockey) to the North League Division 2 East and North League Division 2 South East respectively (5th tier of English Hockey).{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshireha.org.uk |title=Yorkshire Hockey Association|work=Yorkshireha.org.uk|access-date= 21 February 2014}}

Driffield has an 18-hole golf club that has been at its present location since 1934.{{cite web|url=http://www.driffieldgolfclub.co.uk/page.aspx?pid=31557|title=DRIFFIELD GOLF CLUB|publisher=Driffield Golf Club|access-date=11 August 2017}}

Driffield featured on the route of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-humber-39667492/page/7|title=Tour de Yorkshire 2017: Latest updates from stage one|date=28 April 2017|work=BBC News}}

Driffield has a sports centre located on Bridlington Road, which opened in 2009 replacing the old sports centre (now owned by Driffield School). The new sports centre includes a main pool and learner pool, sports hall, a 50-piece gym, and a studio/multi-use room.{{cite web|url=http://www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk/health-club-management-news/Driffield-Leisure-Centre-opens-to-public/102773?source=search|title=Driffield Leisure Centre opens to public|publisher=Healthclubmanagement.co.uk|access-date=12 August 2017}}

Driffield and the Wolds are served by the local newspaper, Driffield & Wolds Weekly, launched in August 2015. The Driffield Times ceased publication in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2016/news/weeklys-founder-shares-sadness-at-closure-of-rival-he-worked-for/|work=HoldtheFrontPage|title=Independent weekly claims 4,000 sale as JP rival exits patch|access-date=10 August 2017}}

Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and ITV Yorkshire. Television signals are received from the Belmont TV transmitter.{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Belmont|title=Belmont (Lincolnshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=11 September 2023}}

The town's local radio stations are BBC Radio Humberside on 95.9 FM, Nation Radio East Yorkshire on 99.8 FM, Capital Yorkshire on 105.8 FM, Hits Radio East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire on 96.9 FM and Great Driffield Radio, launched in November 2018 on 107.2 FM, broadcasts across the town and surrounding villages.{{cite web|url=https://www.greatdriffieldradio.co.uk/news/local-news/item/79-great-driffield-radio-launch-day-announced|title=Great Driffield Radio launch day announced|date=27 November 2018|work=Great Driffield Radio|access-date=28 November 2018}}

Slaughterhouse Studios was a recording studio in the town between 1985 and 1992. Bands including Napalm Death, The Mission, and most notably Happy Mondays would record there.{{cite web|url=http://allabouttherock.co.uk/remembering-slaughterhouse-studios/|title=Remembering Slaughterhouse Studios |work= All About Rock|first=Tim |last=Jones|date=12 May 2015|access-date=11 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/19636-happy-mondays-bummed|title=Driff-Raff: Happy Mondays, Bummed & Driffield |work=The Quietus|date=1 February 2016|first=Daniel Dylan |last=Wray|access-date=11 March 2017}}

Driffield is twinned with Saint Affrique, France.{{cite web|url=https://mydriffield.co.uk/feature-twin-town/|title=Feature: Twin Town – MyDriffield – News and features from Driffield and the Wolds|work=My Driffield|access-date=11 August 2017}}

• Benjamin Fawcett, 19th century woodblock colour printer{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/2941211.stm|title=Garden celebrates Victorian printer|date=12 April 2003|work=BBC News|access-date=13 March 2019}}
• Hazel Gaynor, author
• Alexander Francis Lydon, woodblock colour printer who worked with Benjamin Fawcett{{cite web|url=https://benjaminfawcett.co.uk/lydon.htm|title=Benjamin Fawcett the finest of Victorian colour printers|work=Benjaminfawcett.co.uk|access-date=13 March 2019}}
• Curtis Woodhouse, former professional footballer and boxer{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingnewsonline.net/curtis-woodhouse-hails-response-to-opening-gym-up-to-homeless-people/|title=Curtis Woodhouse hails response to opening gym up to homeless people – Boxing News|work=Boxing News|date=17 December 2018|access-date=18 December 2018}}
• Mick Woodmansey, drummer with David Bowie's band the Spiders from Mars{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-on/music/music-interview-woody-woodmansey-ziggy-stardust-took-a-hold-so-strong-1-9305837|title=Music interview – Woody Woodmansey: 'Ziggy Stardust took a hold so strong'|date=17 August 2018|work=The Yorkshire Post|access-date=13 March 2019}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book | last =Harrison| first = Stephen| title =The History of Driffield, East Yorkshire| publisher = Blackthorn Press | isbn = 0-9535072-9-7| year = 2002}}

{{commons category|Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire|Driffield}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190928170731/http://www.driffield.co.uk/ Driffield Online]

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Category:Market towns in the East Riding of Yorkshire

Category:Civil parishes in the East Riding of Yorkshire

Category:Towns in the East Riding of Yorkshire