Roman coins have been unearthed in Darfield, and there is evidence to suggest that the village contained Roman habitation during its history.
In Saxon, the name "Feld" describes 'a large area of pasture land' , while the term "Dere" refers to the deer which inhabited the forest. When combined, this gives the name Derefeld which later became Darfield.
There are records[where?] of an 8th-century church in Darfield, but when the Domesday Book was written in 1086 there was no mention of it.
Darfield remained an insignificant agricultural village for many centuries to come, until 1862. In that year, two mining companies sank shafts in the Barnsley district to exploit the rich seam of coal running through the area. Darfield Main colliery and Mitchell's Main were local mines, the population of the village quickly increased and it became a labour pool for the surrounding coal mines. By 1901, over 4,000 people lived there [citation needed] compared to just 600 inhabitants in 1851.[citation needed]
Until June 1963, Darfield had a railway station on the Sheffield - Cudworth - Leeds line. The line itself closed in 1988 due to severe mining subsidence.
Community
Darfield shops include a Co-op supermarket, a florist's, baker's, newsagent's, two hairdresser's, garage/MOT station, a post office, greetings card shop, and a hardware & homeware shop. Two village chemists are based inside the local doctors' surgery and on Snape Hill Road. Food outlets include two Indian restaurants (formerly The Bridge Inn and The Station public house) two takeaway cafes, two fish and chip shops, a Chinese takeaway and a pizzeria.
Four pubs survive in the village; Cross Keys, Queen Victoria, the Darfield and the Sportsman Inn.
There are also two clubs; the Village club and the Conservative club. The cricket club also has a bar.
Darfield is the home to the Maurice Dobson museum which is divided into four parts: the main museum, an outlet area where local people can sell their craft items, a cafe/gallery, and a meeting place.[3] There is also an outdoor patio where some larger items are exhibited. The museum's property was donated to the village by Maurice Dobson, after whom the museum is named. There is also a small village public library. Religion is served by an Anglicanparish church and two Methodist chapels.
Ebenezer Elliott, the Corn Law Rhymer, is buried in Darfield All Saints churchyard.[4]
Darfield Upperwood Academy, a 4–11 primary school, opened on 5 November 1973,[5] that educates around 250 pupils. In July 2006 it was reported in the Barnsley Chronicle that a special investigation by council auditors into the school accounts raised questions about the way it was using public money. This received national media coverage when it appeared in the Yorkshire Post in March 2007.[6]
Outwood Primary Academy Darfield (formerly Darfield Valley Primary School), Snape Hill Road, Darfield.
All Saints' Academy (formerly Darfield All Saints' Primary School), a Church of England primary school with academy status. Located on School Street, Darfield.
Darfield Park Crown Green Bowling Club was established in 1922 by the Miner’s welfare scheme. The distinctive original club house and ground still remain on Church Street opposite Darfield Library. The club celebrated its centenary in 2022 and is always looking for new members to strengthen this local asset.
Darfield has a cricket club which plays at Darfield Cricket Ground and a junior football team which is Darfield JFC, they have played on the Longbow playing fields former Darfield Foulstone School Fields for the last 21 years.
The village has had a team play in the FA Cup before - Darfield F.C.[citation needed] Its nearest professional football club is Barnsley F.C. based in the city centre of the metropolitan borough.
