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. The 2011 census population was 1,408.

The history of Darrington can be traced back to the time of Edward the Confessor. The last Anglo Saxon owners of Darrington were named Jordan, Baret and Alsi. After the Norman conquest it fell to the ownership of Ilbert de Lacy, a favourite of William the Conqueror.

Novelist, historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, J. S. Fletcher (Joseph Smith Fletcher) was brought up in Darrington.

At the heart of the village is the village shop, the Spread Eagle pub, church and the school. Darrington Church of England Junior & Infant School has about 100 pupils and holds a good reputation in the area. The school 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, now in a state of disrepair.

Darrington is home to the Mid-Yorkshire Golf Club, the Kyte Hotel, the Darrington pub and hotel, the Spread Eagle public house, a branch of Ripon Farm Services and Darrington Quarries.

The village 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. There is also a 5-mile run on the same day. The field is also the venue for an annual bonfire and firework display. These events are well attended, bringing visitors from surrounding villages and raising money for the upkeep of the field and to buy new play equipment, etc.

Although the Holly Cottage Post Office has closed, a post office is available on Monday and Thursday mornings on Phillips Lane. 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 gained permission to deal with money orders.

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