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Darfield, South Yorkshire facts for kids

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Darfield
Darfield's museum - geograph.org.uk - 934147.jpg
Darfield museum
Darfield is located in South Yorkshire
Darfield
Darfield
Population 10,685 (Ward. 2011)
OS grid reference SE411048
• London 150 mi (240 km) SSE
Metropolitan borough
  • Barnsley
Metropolitan county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Barnsley
Postcode district S73
Dialling code 01226
Police South Yorkshire
Fire South Yorkshire
Ambulance Yorkshire
EU Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament
  • Barnsley East
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
53°32′17″N 1°22′52″W / 53.538°N 1.3812°W / 53.538; -1.3812

Darfield is a village located in South Yorkshire, England. It is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley. Historically, it was part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Darfield is about 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Barnsley town centre. In 2011, the village had a population of 10,685 people.

History of Darfield

Early History and Name Origin

People have found Roman coins in Darfield. This suggests that Romans lived in the village a very long time ago.

The name "Darfield" comes from old English words. "Feld" means a large area of pasture land. "Dere" refers to the deer that lived in the forests. So, "Derefeld" meant "deer field," which later became Darfield.

Records show there was a church in Darfield in the 8th century. However, the Domesday Book from 1086 does not mention it.

Darfield's Growth with Coal Mining

For many centuries, Darfield was a small farming village. This changed in 1862 when two mining companies started digging for coal. The Darfield Main and Mitchell's Main collieries opened nearby.

Because of the mines, many people moved to Darfield for work. The village population grew very quickly. In 1851, only about 600 people lived there. By 1901, over 4,000 people called Darfield home.

Darfield also had a railway station until 1963. The train line itself closed in 1988 because of problems caused by mining.

Community Life in Darfield

Local Shops and Services

Darfield has many useful shops for its residents. These include a supermarket, a florist, a baker, and a newsagent. You can also find hairdressers, a garage, a post office, and a greetings card shop. There are two chemists, one inside the local doctors' surgery.

For food, Darfield offers two Indian restaurants and two takeaway cafes. You can also enjoy two fish and chip shops, a Chinese takeaway, and a pizzeria.

Places to Meet and Relax

The village has four pubs: Cross Keys, Queen Victoria, the Darfield, and the Sportsman Inn. There are also two clubs: the Village club and the Conservative club. The local cricket club also has a bar for its members.

Museum and Library

Darfield is home to the Maurice Dobson Museum. This museum has several parts, including a main display area. It also has an outlet where local people can sell their crafts. There is a cafe and a meeting place too. The museum building was given to the village by Maurice Dobson, who the museum is named after.

The village also has a small public library. For religious services, there is an Anglican parish church and two Methodist chapels.

Notable Burials

Ebenezer Elliott, a famous poet known as the Corn Law Rhymer, is buried in Darfield All Saints churchyard.

Getting Around Darfield (Transport)

Bus Services

Stagecoach Yorkshire runs frequent bus services from Darfield. Buses go to Barnsley Interchange every 15 minutes during the day. You can use the 218, 219, and X19 services. There are also two buses per hour to Wombwell. The express bus service X19 goes directly to Doncaster Frenchgate Interchange.

Train Connections

Both Wombwell and Goldthorpe railway stations are close to Darfield. From these stations, you can catch trains to cities like Sheffield, Meadowhall, Wakefield, and Leeds.

Education in Darfield

Darfield has several schools for young people:

  • Darfield Upperwood Academy: This is a primary school for children aged 4 to 11. It opened in 1973 and teaches about 250 pupils.
  • Outwood Primary Academy Darfield: This school was formerly known as Darfield Valley Primary School. It is located on Snape Hill Road.
  • All Saints' Academy: This is a Church of England primary school. It has academy status and is located on School Street.
  • Netherwood Academy: This is a secondary school that started in September 2012. It was formed by combining Darfield Foulstone School and Wombwell High School. The old Darfield Foulstone School building was taken down in 2013.

Sports in Darfield

Bowling and Cricket

The Darfield Park Crown Green Bowling Club started in 1922. It was part of the Miner’s welfare scheme. The club's original building and ground are still on Church Street. The club celebrated its 100th birthday in 2022 and welcomes new members.

Darfield also has a cricket club. They play at Darfield Cricket Ground.

Football Teams

Darfield JFC is a junior football team in the village. They have played on the Longbow playing fields for over 20 years.

The village once had a team called Darfield F.C. that played in the FA Cup. The closest professional football club to Darfield is Barnsley F.C..

Notable People from Darfield

Many interesting people have connections to Darfield:

  • Ian McMillan: A well-known poet and broadcaster.
  • Brian Key: A former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Yorkshire South. He was also a local councillor.
  • Steve Lancaster: A chemist who is one of the Royal Society of Chemistry's "175 Faces of Chemistry."
  • Stephanie Peacock: The Member of Parliament (MP) for Barnsley.
  • Patrick Murphy: An artist and designer.
  • Gordon West: A famous England and Everton football goalkeeper.
  • Clifford Woodhead: A footballer.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Darfield para niños

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