Mayfield, Staffordshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayfield |
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 Hanging Mill Bridge, Mayfield |
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 Mayfield
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| Population | 2,000 |
| OS grid reference | SK154448 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ASHBOURNE |
| Postcode district | DE6 3 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Mayfield is a village in England, located on the edge of Ashbourne. It's about 9 miles from Uttoxeter in East Staffordshire.
The village is split into several parts: Mayfield, Church Mayfield, Lower Mayfield, Upper Mayfield, and Middle Mayfield. Around 2,000 people live here. Mayfield sits on the banks of the River Dove. This river forms the border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Even though Mayfield is in Staffordshire, it has an Ashbourne postal address because Ashbourne is its closest postal town.
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History of Mayfield
Mayfield is a very old village. It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. Back then, it was called 'Mavreveldt'. This name might mean 'open land growing with madder' or 'assembly open land' in Old English.
The Siege of Mayfield
The village was once the scene of a siege during the retreat of Bonnie Prince Charlie. His followers caused trouble for the local villagers. This forced the villagers to hide inside St John the Baptist's church. You can still see small holes in one of the church doors. People say these holes were made by musket balls fired during the siege.
Mayfield's Church History
There has been a church in Mayfield for over a thousand years. The Domesday Survey of 1086 recorded a priest living in Mayfield. This was one of only 25 priests noted for the whole county of Staffordshire at that time.
The first church was likely a Saxon wooden building. It stood on or near where the current church is now. Around 1125, during the reign of King Henry I, a new Norman stone church replaced the Saxon one. The church was made bigger in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tall church tower was built in 1515. The last time the church was extended was in 1854.
World War II Plane Crash
On June 13, 1944, during World War II, a Royal Air Force Vickers Wellington bomber (LP397) was on a training flight. It was from RAF Castle Donington. About 25 minutes into its flight, the aircraft flew into a thunderstorm. Shortly after, the plane went into a nose dive and crashed near the village. All six crew members on board died in the crash.
Economy in Mayfield
Mayfield has had a mill on the banks of the River Dove since the 12th century. Today, this mill is called Mayfield Yarns. It makes special warped and twisted yarns. The area around Mayfield also has several farms.
Local School
Henry Prince First School in Mayfield closed down in the summer of 2019.
Mayfield's Local Customs
Every summer, Mayfield keeps up a special tradition called well dressing. This is where wells and springs are decorated with beautiful pictures. These pictures are made by pressing flower petals into clay. The first Well Dressing festival in Mayfield happened in 1896.
Making the well dressing boards takes several days. First, clay is spread over wet boards. Then, the outline of the design is pricked out using coffee beans. After that, the "petalling" begins, where flower petals are carefully pressed into the clay to create the picture. Finally, the finished boards are put up by the wells. Local clergy from different churches bless the wells. The decorated wells stay up for a week for everyone to enjoy.
Local Groups in Mayfield
Mayfield has many active community groups:
- A busy scout group started in 2015. It welcomes children from the village and nearby areas. Volunteers run the group, and Katy Lewis is the group scout leader.
- Mayfield Panthers is the local football club. It has teams for all ages and plays in both summer and winter leagues.
- The Mayfield Heritage Group works to promote and protect the history of Mayfield and its surroundings.
- The Mayfield Memorial Hall is a charity. It provides a place for events and raises money for Mayfield, Ashbourne, and nearby areas.
- The Mayfield Recreational Association (MRA) offers outdoor sports facilities. These are for children, young people, and adults in and around Mayfield. They have a football field, a multi-use games area, a bowling green, a playground, and a pavilion.
- MARNA is a community group formed in 2019. It aims to improve facilities in Mayfield and organize events for children and older people.
- Senior Social is a club for people over sixty in the village.
Notable People from Mayfield
- William Barton (1598?–1678) was an English hymn writer and a vicar in Mayfield.
- Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist. His daughter, Olivia Byron Moore, is buried in the Mayfield churchyard.
- Sir Bertram Windle FRS, FSA, (1858–1929) was born in Mayfield Vicarage. He was a British anatomist, archaeologist, scientist, and writer.
See also
In Spanish: Mayfield (Staffordshire) para niños
