Darrington, West Yorkshire

Darrington is a small village and civil parish in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, 3 miles (4.8 km) from Pontefract and 25 miles (40 km) from the city of York. The village is split in two by the busy A1 trunk road which runs from London to Scotland. It has a population of 1,308.^[1]

At the heart of the village is the Church, and the Church School of about 100 pupils, Darrington Church of England Junior & Infant School, which has quite a good reputation in the area. It is next to the 13th century Parish Church of St Luke and All Saints, the Parish Church for the parish of Darrington with Wentbridge in the Benefice of the Went Valley. The Old School and Dovecote are now houses, and the mediaeval Tithe Barn is between the Old School and the Church, though in a state of disrepair.

Darrington is home to the Mid-Yorkshire Golf Club, and the newly renovated Kyte Hotel, as well as a branch of Ripon Farm Services and Darrington Quarries. There is also a Premier Travel Inn within "The Darrington Pub and Hotel" which is also named "Pontefract South Premier Travel Inn".

The village also has a community playing field which is home to the 'Feast and Fayre' once a year; this has a collection of stalls, a bouncy castle, dancing and many other types of entertainment. Also the field is home to a bonfire once a year. Both these events raise money for the upkeep of the field and to buy new play equipment etc.

A coffee morning weekly in the Reading Room on Philip's Lane offers tea and coffee and a warm environment. A post office is also available, on Monday and Thursday mornings, at the same location. Holly Cottage Post Office in Darrington has closed, There have been many post office moves in the village. According to the Post Office Archives, the first post office in the village was opened in 1888; in 1889, it got its Rubber Stamp and was allowed to deal with money orders.

Genealogists will be interested in the booklets of monumental inscriptions from the Churchyard and that of Wentbridge available from the Pontefract & District Family History Society. Church records are kept at the West Yorkshire County Archives.

References

1. ^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Wakefield Retrieved 2009-09-10

External links

• Darrington Church website
• Darrington Parish Council website
• Village of Darrington
• Pontefract & District Family History Society

Coordinates: 53°40′N 1°15′W / 53.667°N 1.25°W / 53.667; -1.25