Keep It Local – Celebrating small and family-run businesses in Driffield and the Wolds

Known as the Capital of the Wolds, Driffield is a thriving market town and annually holds the largest one-day agricultural show in Britain.

The 500-year-old tower of All Saints’ Church can be seen from miles around, like a beacon guiding visitors into the town, but it was the opening of the Driffield Canal which put the town firmly on the map in the 18th century.

Driffield has a rich and colourful history dating back to Neolithic times, including the burial of a king, an Anglo-Saxon palace, witchcraft, the arrival of the canal in the 18th century and the railway in the 19th century, and some of the finest 19th century colour printing ever seen.

For generations Driffield’s prosperity was tied to agriculture, but in recent years it has adapted very successfully to the need for new sources of prosperity.

In the last decade the number of residents has grown as word has spread about what a great place it is to live and work.

Another contributing factor in Driffield’s growing popularity is the excellent road and rail links. The town is an easy place for visitors to get to, and it is very well connected to the rest of the region for those who live or have businesses here.

As well as a thriving weekly market, held every Thursday, Driffield’s attractive high street includes a varied mix of independent shops and national retailers, interspersed with cafes, restaurants and public houses.

The town’s three picturesque becks present lovely opportunities for a relaxing stroll, as does the historic Riverhead canal which also hosts pleasure boats and sailing.

With its converted warehouses and newly restored town lock, it is a very popular and photogenic spot
A mile-long stretch of the canal towpath from Whinhill Lock to Wansford is now a pretty nature trail. There is also a historical trail celebrating the life of the famous archaeologist John Mortimer.

Driffield’s central location makes it an excellent base from which to explore the beautiful East Yorkshire countryside and the spectacular Yorkshire coast.

On Driffield’s doorstep are the picturesque rolling hills of the Yorkshire Wolds, which have been the subject of many of artist David Hockney’s paintings.

The landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds is unusual in that it consists of high flat plateaus punctuated by deep dry grassy valleys and woodlands.

The combination of excellent natural drainage – provided by the chalk hills – and the mild climate has meant that agriculture has dominated the area.