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Haxby
Town
The Village, Haxby.jpg
Haxby town centre
Haxby is located in North Yorkshire
Haxby
Haxby
Population 8,428 (2011 census)
OS grid reference SE607582
Civil parish
  • Haxby
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town YORK
Postcode district YO32
Dialling code 01904
Police North Yorkshire
Fire North Yorkshire
Ambulance Yorkshire
EU Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament
  • York Outer
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°00′58″N 1°04′30″W / 54.016°N 1.075°W / 54.016; -1.075

Haxby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It's part of the City of York area. In 2011, about 8,428 people lived here.

Haxby is surrounded by open fields to the north. The River Foss is to the east. It's located outside the main York ring road, close to the areas of New Earswick and Huntington. It also connects directly with the village of Wigginton to the west.

The name Haxby comes from an old Norse word. It means the settlement of someone named Hákr. The town was first written down as Haxebi in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. The centre of Haxby, often called "The Village," has been a special protected area since 1976. Haxby officially became a town in 1992.

For many years, Haxby was managed by different local councils. Since 1996, it has been part of the City of York. This means the City of York Council is responsible for local services in Haxby.

Haxby's Past: A Journey Through Time

Early Days and Viking Roots

Haxby started as a settlement around the 9th century. The Vikings named it Haxebi. The word "BY" in Norse means a small town or farm. It was usually added to the name of the person who owned the land, like Hakr in this case. We know about its Viking past from a special Viking cross base. It's in the churchyard of St Mary's Church. Another Viking cross part was found in a nearby garden in 1978.

There's also proof that the Romans were here. In 1966, a Roman villa was found on Haxby Moor. More Roman items, like pottery and a silver ring, were found in 2003 on Station Road.

Medieval Times and Growth

During the Middle Ages, Haxby was part of the royal Forest of Galtres. This meant people living here had to follow special forest laws. In 1629, King Charles I gave up his rights to the forest. This allowed Haxby to get more land and grow. Today, the parish is about 2,100 acres (8.5 km2).

Haxby wasn't always its own parish. It was split between the parishes of Strensall and Driffield. After St Mary's Church, Haxby was built in the 16th century, it became a small church linked to Strensall. In 1862, Haxby finally became its own parish.

Modern Changes and Town Status

Many buildings in Haxby's town centre are from the 18th and early 19th centuries. But a lot of changes happened in Victorian times. Important buildings from this period include the Memorial Hall, St Mary's Church, and the Methodist Chapel. When the railway arrived, Haxby became a popular place to live. People could easily travel to work from here.

Haxby continued to grow slowly until the 1970s. Then, its population grew four times bigger! In 1976, the centre of Haxby was made a conservation area. This means its special character is protected.

By 1992, Haxby had grown so much that it was officially declared a town. Its population was over 10,000. In 1996, Haxby became part of the City of York.

How Haxby is Governed

Haxby Town Council
Coat of arms of Haxby.png
Arms of Haxby Town Council
Type
Type
Parish council
History
Founded 1992
Leadership
Chairman
Ruth Pearson
Town Clerk
Alan Draper
Structure
Seats 14 Councillors (1 vacancy)
7 / 14
3 / 14
2 / 14
1 / 14
Elections
Plurality-at-large
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Haxby Memorial Hall or the Oaken Grove Community Centre


Haxby Town Council

Haxby has its own Town Council. It has up to 14 Councillors who represent different parts of the town. The Town Council office is at Haxby Memorial Hall. Meetings are usually held there or at the Oaken Grove Community Centre.

The Town Council takes care of many local things. These include:

  • The Village Green and Wyre Pond (also known as Haxby Duck Pond).
  • Ethel Ward Memorial Playing Fields and Mancroft Recreational Open Space. This includes the Ethel Ward Pavilion and children's play areas.
  • Community items like bus shelters, benches, and noticeboards.
  • The Allotment gardens on Station Road.
  • It also works with Wigginton Parish Council to manage Haxby and Wigginton Cemetery.
  • The Town Council also organizes the yearly Haxby Carnival.

Haxby and Wigginton Ward Committee

Haxby is part of the Haxby and Wigginton Ward. This ward is represented by three members on the City of York Council. These three members form the local Ward Committee. They have a small budget for local road improvements and grants for local groups. Elections for the City Council happen every four years.

The City of York Council provides many important services. These include:

  • Care for adults and children.
  • Education.
  • Waste services, like collecting household rubbish and recycling.
  • Transport and roads, including local roads and footpaths.
  • Library services.

Member of Parliament

Haxby is part of the York Outer area for the UK Parliament. This area is represented by a Member of Parliament (MP). The current MP for York Outer is Julian Sturdy, who was first elected in 2010.

Local Elections

Elections for the City Council and Town Council happen every four years. The last elections were in May 2023, and the next ones will be in May 2027. People in Haxby can vote at places like the Memorial Hall, the Scout Hut, and St Margaret Clitherow's Church.

Population and Community Information

Haxby Memorial Hall - geograph.org.uk - 2384703
Haxby Memorial Hall

In 1881, Haxby had 559 people. By 2001, the population grew to 8,754. In 2011, it was 8,428.

The City of York Council collects information about the people living in Haxby and Wigginton. Here are some facts from 2021–22:

  • There were 11,769 residents in Haxby and Wigginton.
  • Most residents (82.3%) said they were in good health.
  • The average weekly household income in 2017–18 was about £664.
  • Most homes (88%) are owned by the people living in them.
  • About 71.3% of residents have a qualification from Level 1 to 4.
  • A small number of children (8.3%) live in low-income families.
  • About 1.2% of working-age people claim unemployment benefits.

Haxby's Location and Landscape

Haxby is on flat land. The soil is mostly clay, with some sand. It's near the old Forest of Galtres. To the north, there's a small stream called Goland Dike, which flows into the River Foss. The River Foss is to the east and flows south.

The nearby village of Wigginton now joins with Haxby. However, old maps still show the original boundary between them.

Getting Around Haxby: Transport

Bus Services

Several bus services connect Haxby to other areas. As of late 2021, these services include:

  • Service 1: Travels from Wigginton through Haxby to York City Centre and Chapelfields. It runs every day.
  • Service 13: Goes from Haxby (West Nooks) to Copmanthorpe, via York City Centre. It runs Monday to Saturday during the day.
  • Service 14: Travels from Haxby (West Nooks) to Foxwood, via York City Centre. It runs Monday to Saturday evenings.
  • Service 20: Connects Rawcliffe, Wigginton, Haxby, Huntington, and Heworth. It runs Monday to Saturday during the day and early evening.

There might be some changes to bus services in the future.

Train Services

Haxby used to have a train station from 1845 to 1930. It was on the line between York and Scarborough. There have been many attempts to reopen a new station over the years.

In 2020, the City of York Council received money to plan a new station. They also bought some land for the station. The goal is to have a train service with trains every half hour. More money was given in 2023 to help with the station's design.

In October 2023, the government announced Haxby station as part of new transport projects. Plans for the station were submitted in early 2024. Construction was planned for 2025, with the station opening in 2026. However, funding for this project was later withdrawn in July 2024.

Learning in Haxby: Education

Primary Schools

Children in Haxby can go to two primary schools:

  • Headlands Primary School on Oak Tree Lane.
  • Ralph Butterfield School on Station Road.

Secondary School

Haxby is in the area for Joseph Rowntree Secondary School.

Library and Community Centre

The Oaken Grove Community Centre is a place for the community. It used to be a school. In January 2023, the new Haxby and Wigginton Library opened there after a big renovation. The centre also has community rooms, a cafe, and offers classes and youth services.

Local Media

To keep up with local news, people in Haxby can watch:

  • TV: BBC Yorkshire, BBC North East and Cumbria (on BBC One), ITV Yorkshire, and ITV Tyne Tees (on ITV1).
  • Radio: BBC Radio York (103.7 FM), Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire (104.7 FM), YO1 Radio (102.8 FM), Jorvik Radio (94.8 FM), and YorkMix Radio (on DAB).
  • Newspaper: The local newspaper is The York Press.

Sports in Haxby

Haxby has local sports clubs for people who love to play!

  • Football: Haxby United Football Club plays at the Ethel Ward Playing Fields.
  • Netball: Haxby Netball Club has several teams that play in the York and District Netball League.

Places of Worship

IMG 6466 - St Marys Church Haxby 1 (Nigel Coates)
St. Mary's Church
  • St Mary's Church: This church was rebuilt in 1878 on the site of an older 16th-century building. It's located near the town centre.
  • Haxby & Wigginton Methodist Church: This church is located on the road known as The Village.
  • St Margaret Clitherow's Church: This is a Roman Catholic church on Holly Tree Lane.

Famous People from Haxby

  • Taj Atwal: An actress known for shows like Hullraisers and Line of Duty, used to live in Haxby.
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