Driffield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Driffield |
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From the top, Driffield Market Place clock, All Saints Church, The Canal
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 Arms of Driffield Town Council |
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 Driffield
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| Population | 13,080 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | TA023577 |
| • London | 175 mi (282 km) S |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DRIFFIELD |
| Postcode district | YO25 |
| Dialling code | 01377 |
| Police | Humberside |
| Fire | Humberside |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a lively market town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It's located near the middle of the Yorkshire Wolds, a beautiful area of rolling hills. Because of this, Driffield is often called The Capital of the Wolds.
The town and the nearby village of Little Driffield together form a local area called a civil parish. In 2011, about 13,080 people lived in Driffield. The town was even named one of the best places to live in northern England in 2019!
Contents
- History of Driffield
- How Driffield is Governed
- Fun Things to Do and See in Driffield
- Schools in Driffield
- Getting Around Driffield
- Driffield's Population Over Time
- Churches in Driffield
- Local Traditions
- Weather in Driffield
- Sports in Driffield
- Local Media
- Twin Town
- Famous People from Driffield
- Images for kids
- See also
History of Driffield
Driffield has a very old history, going back to Anglo-Saxon times. Its name first appeared in a historical record called the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 705 AD. The name "Driffield" means "dirty (or manured) field," which tells us it was likely a farming area long ago.
Archaeologists found a Bronze Age burial mound outside Driffield. Inside, they discovered ancient items like a knife, a dagger, a drinking cup, and a stone wrist-guard. These items are now kept in the British Museum and are from between 2200 and 1500 BC.
You can also find the remains of Driffield Castle at a place called Moot Hill. This was a type of castle known as a motte-and-bailey, which means it had a mound (motte) and a walled courtyard (bailey).
During Second World War, RAF Driffield, a local air force base, was attacked by German planes. Sadly, some people lost their lives, including the first member of the WAAF.
How Driffield is Governed
Driffield is an important part of the "Driffield and Rural" voting area. This area also includes nearby villages like Sledmere. For national elections, Driffield is part of the Bridlington and the Wolds area. The old Driffield Town Hall is no longer used for public events.
Fun Things to Do and See in Driffield
The heart of Driffield is Middle Street, which is its main shopping street. Here you'll find a mix of local shops and bigger chain stores. Every Thursday, a market is held in the town centre, where you can find all sorts of goods.
Driffield is famous for the Driffield Show, which is the biggest one-day agricultural show in the United Kingdom! It's a huge event where you can see farm animals, machinery, and lots of other fun activities. The town also hosts the Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally every August. This event shows off old vehicles like traction engines, fairground organs, tractors, and vintage cars. A special part of the rally is when the steam engines drive through the town centre on Saturday evening, which many people come to watch.
Driffield also has a small hospital called Alfred Bean Hospital, a fire station, a police station, and several churches.
The town is located near the Driffield Navigation canal and the start of the River Hull. A group called the Driffield Navigation Trust helps look after the canal. They even host an annual raft race and an open day gala at the River Head.
The Driffield Beck is a stream that flows close to the main street. It's a popular spot for fishing, especially for brown trout and grayling.
Schools in Driffield
Driffield has several schools for different age groups. There are two infant schools for younger children and one larger junior school for kids aged 7 to 11. Driffield School & Sixth Form is a big secondary school that also has a sixth form, where students can study for A level exams. The town also has Kings Mill Special School.
Getting Around Driffield
Driffield is connected by several main roads, including the A614, A166, and B1249.
The town has its own Driffield railway station on the Yorkshire Coast Line. You can catch direct trains to places like Sheffield, York, Hull, and Scarborough.
Local bus services, run by East Yorkshire Motor Services, connect Driffield to nearby towns such as Hull, Beverley, and York.
Driffield's Population Over Time
| Population | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1801 | 1811 | 1821 | 1831 | 1841 | 1851 | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1951 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
| Total | 1,411 | 1,857 | 2,303 | 2,660 | 3,223 | 3,963 | 5,937 | 5,700 | 6,036 | 5,676 | 5,791 | 6,040 | 7,006 | 6,892 | 7,895 | 9,100 | 10,062 | 11,477 | 13,080 |
Churches in Driffield
Driffield has nine churches that work together as 'Churches Together in Driffield'.
The Anglican church called All Saints' Church is a very old and important building. It was given a special Grade I listing in 1963, meaning it's a historic building. There's also a small Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady and Saint Edward, built in 1886. The Methodist Church on Middle Street North was rebuilt recently. Other churches include Bourne Methodists, The Salvation Army, Driffield Christian Fellowship, the Congregational Church, and Revive Church.
Local Traditions
Driffield has a unique old tradition called Scrambling. It happens a few days after New Year's Day. Children walk through the main street and shout an old rhyme to shopkeepers. In return, they get money and treats! The rhyme they shout 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!..."
It's also a tradition for people in Driffield to gather in the market place on New Year's Eve. They listen for the church bells ringing to welcome the new year.
Weather in Driffield
The weather in Driffield is generally mild, with warm temperatures and a bit more rain than some other places. The average temperature for the year is about 9.5°C, and the average rainfall is around 719 mm.
| Climate data for Climate data for Driffield | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | — | 5.8 (42.4) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.7 (51.3) |
14.0 (57.2) |
16.8 (62.2) |
19.6 (67.3) |
19.7 (67.5) |
16.6 (61.9) |
12.4 (54.3) |
8.4 (47.1) |
5.8 (42.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.6 (33.1) |
0.6 (33.1) |
1.9 (35.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
6.0 (42.8) |
8.6 (47.5) |
10.9 (51.6) |
11.0 (51.8) |
9.4 (48.9) |
6.6 (43.9) |
3.4 (38.1) |
1.0 (33.8) |
5.3 (41.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −5 (23) |
−9 (16) |
−6 (21) |
−3 (27) |
1 (34) |
2 (36) |
5 (41) |
5 (41) |
−1 (30) |
−4 (25) |
−8 (18) |
−11 (12) |
−11 (12) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 65.7 (2.59) |
51.6 (2.03) |
56.8 (2.24) |
58.9 (2.32) |
49.9 (1.96) |
69.8 (2.75) |
58.3 (2.30) |
64.1 (2.52) |
62.9 (2.48) |
68.4 (2.69) |
74.0 (2.91) |
71.0 (2.80) |
751.1 (29.57) |
| Average precipitation days | 13.0 | 10.7 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 9.6 | 10.5 | 9.9 | 10.6 | 9.4 | 12.0 | 13.3 | 12.4 | 132.3 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 52.3 | 76.6 | 110.0 | 149.5 | 198.8 | 179.1 | 191.9 | 178.4 | 139.4 | 104.8 | 64.4 | 46.6 | 1,491.7 |
| Source: Met Office | |||||||||||||
Sports in Driffield
Driffield has a strong sports scene! There are two main men's football teams, Driffield Junior Football Club and Driffield Evening Institute. They both play in the Humber Premier League Division One. Driffield also has its own local football league, founded in 1919.
The town has a cricket club whose first team plays in a top league, the ECB Yorkshire Premier League North. Several professional cricketers have played for the club.
Driffield RUFC is the town's rugby club. They have five senior teams, including a women's team, plus teams for younger players.
Driffield Hockey Club plays at Driffield Sports Centre. They have three men's teams and four ladies' teams, along with junior and veteran sections. Both the men's and ladies' first teams have been promoted to higher leagues.
If you like golf, Driffield has an 18-hole golf club that has been in its current spot since 1934.
The town was even part of the route for the Tour de Yorkshire cycling race in 2017.
Driffield also has a modern sports centre on Bridlington Road, which opened in 2009. It has a main swimming pool, a learner pool, a sports hall, a gym, and a multi-use room.
Local Media
Driffield and the Wolds area have their own local newspaper, Driffield & Wolds Weekly, which started in 2015.
For TV, local news and shows come from BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and ITV Yorkshire.
The town has several local radio stations. These include BBC Radio Humberside (95.9 FM), Nation Radio East Yorkshire (99.8 FM), Capital Yorkshire (105.8 FM), Hits Radio East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire (96.9 FM), and Great Driffield Radio (107.2 FM), which started broadcasting in 2018.
Twin Town
Driffield is twinned with the town of Saint Affrique in France. This means they have a special friendship and cultural exchange.
Famous People from Driffield
Some notable people who have connections to Driffield include:
- Benjamin Fawcett: A famous printer from the 1800s.
- Hazel Gaynor: A well-known author.
- Alexander Francis Lydon: Another printer who worked with Benjamin Fawcett.
- Curtis Woodhouse: A former professional footballer and boxer.
- Mick Woodmansey: The drummer for David Bowie's band, The Spiders from Mars.
Images for kids
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Driffield Market Place clock
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All Saints Church
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The Canal
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Arms of Driffield Town Council
See also
In Spanish: Driffield para niños
