|
|
|
|
Darfield is situated, in the county of South Yorkshire, on the A635 road, which links Barnsley and Doncaster. It is 5 miles from Barnsley and 11 miles from Doncaster. To the North is Leeds (27 miles by road) and to the South is Sheffield (15 miles by road). Darfield is classified as a coalmining village. It has a long historical background. Its development has been subjected to many influences. Its current population, according to the latest census, was approximately 8,050.
Many Roman coins have been found in Darfield. In 1691, while ploughing, a farm labourer unearthed a pot, which contained 481 golden Roman coins. Further discoveries have been recorded. In 1950, while digging the foundations for a house, a labourer dug up a pot in which were 500 Mark Anthony silver coins, they were dated to the 3rd century AD. *The South Yorkshire Archaeology Unit, Sheffield, holds the records of the finds. Further official records declare "there are traces of Roman earthworks in the lower reaches of Darfield". There are no records to indicate these earthworks have been located. Anglo Saxon The name of Darfield is attributed to the Anglo Saxons. In Saxon the name "Feld" describes "a large area of pasture land"; while the term "Dere" describes the deer which roamed the forest. Combine "Dere" and "Feld", it gives "Derefeld", later to become DARFIELD. In the year 1066 (the year of the Norman Invasion), the major landowner in South Yorkshire, Lord Swein died. He appointed as the chief executor of his will GODWYN, Priest and Pastor of Darfield. Does this indicate that Darfield Church and its Pastor were held in high esteem? Norman When William the Conqueror invaded England there are indications that he met with little resistance in the south, but the further north he advanced the stronger the resistance became. By the time he reached South Yorkshire very stubborn resistance was met. In an attempt to overcome this resistance the Normans imposed a curfew, all lights and fires had to be out by 8 p.m. But this was ignored, and so orders were given to burn down homes and crops across the area. The villages that offered the strongest resistance were destroyed. There were records of an 8th century church in Darfield, but when the Domesday Book was compiled there was no record of a Darfield church. In that book Darfield was recorded as "Derewelle".
|
