NORTH DUFFIELD TODAY

North Duffield is a village and civil parish in the Selby District of North Yorkshire, England. It lies about 7 km northeast of Selby on the A163 road from Selby to Market Weighton. The River Derwent forms the eastern boundary of the parish.

It has an area of around 4081 hectares (according to 2001 UK Census data [1]). There are approximately 1800 residents in the village, the majority of whom are aged between 30 and 50 years.

North Duffield is home to a Community Primary School, Methodist Church, village hall, village green, shop and pub.

The village boasts a large number of groups benefitting the Community: there is the North Duffield Conservation and Local History Society and Archaeology North Duffield, Womens Institute, The Village Players, Over 60'2 Club, Under 5's,Luncheon Club, cricket team, junior football team, both indoor and outdoor bowls teams, Village Hall Committee and various other organisations who hold bird auctions, dog training and fitness sessions in the village hall.

North Duffield Conservation and Local History Society (the Society)  was formed on 10th December 1984. It adopted Articles of Association on 3rd December 1986. To view Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association click on their titles.

The current Chair, John Ellwood, is the only founding member still actively involved in the Society.

A small but active membership collected a great deal of documentary evidence gathering together an archive of original documents from local people, copies of documents held in the Borthwick Institute, York and County archives at Beverley and elsewhere. Most records were held in the East Riding/East Yorkshire area since that was the administrative authority covering the village until boundary changes in 1976, when responsibility fell to North Yorkshire. They also started a photographic archive which now consists of thousands of images and is constantly being added to as old material comes to light and new contemporary photographs are taken to reflect everyday life in the village. Copies of any of our photographs can be supplied at a small cost.

During the early life of the Society it also recorded some audio and video interviews and footage of local people and some of the fast disappearing local farms in co-operation with the BBC as part of the Millennium Project.

In due course a booklet was produced regarding the history of North Duffield. Entitled 'Ducks Crossing', it immortalised the signs in the village erected to warn drivers of ducks commuting from the pond on the village green to a second pond on the other side of the main street, on private land. Sadly, the sign had only limited effect as the ducks could not read any better than some drivers.

The booklet proved very popular locally and out-sold several re-printings.  No copies remain for sale now although members hold their own copies. It is quite possible that an additional copy could be created should anybody have need of one.

The Society holds regular meetings in the village hall at 7.30pm on the third Tuesday of every month from September to April and visits to places of interest during the summer months. No meeting is held in December. The Annual lunch is now held in January, usually on the third Tuesday in the month.  Membership is currently £5 per annum. New members are always welcome.

The Society is affiliated to the Council for British Archaeology and York Timeline Plus, a group of history and archaeological societies.

As the Society grew in numbers it broadened its horizons and continued research increased the knowledge and expertise of many of the members of the Society to the point where a new, more detailed and up-to-date book on the history and origins of the village is in process of preparation for presenting to the printers. Some funding has already been obtained but more will be needed to cover the cost of printing. Motivation behind this new project was largely down to Frank Underwood, another founding member and now sadly deceased, who, late in life, obtained a degree based upon the field systems of North Duffield, a signal achievement for a senior citizen. He was the long-term Secretary and driving force until his death.

Most recently the Society has started to investigate the origins of village archaeologically and a sub-group, Archaeology North Duffield(AND) was formed.  To view the archaeology section click here.