Kirkburn

Kirkburn
Kirkburn
 Kirkburn shown within the East Riding of Yorkshire
Population 903 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSE981551
    London 170 mi (270 km)  S
Civil parishKirkburn
Unitary authorityEast Riding of Yorkshire
Ceremonial countyEast Riding of Yorkshire
RegionYorkshire and the Humber
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town DRIFFIELD
Postcode district YO25
Dialling code 01377
Police Humberside
Fire Humberside
Ambulance Yorkshire
EU Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK ParliamentEast Yorkshire
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire

Coordinates: 53°58′59″N 0°30′18″W / 53.983095°N 0.504899°W

Kirkburn is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated about 3 miles (5 km) south-west of Driffield town centre and is on the A614 road.

The civil parish is formed by the village of Kirkburn and the hamlets of Eastburn, Kelleythorpe and Southburn. According to the 2011 UK census, Kirkburn parish had a population of 903,[1] an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 492.[2]

History

The Kirkburn Sword, kept in the British Museum.

Originally known as Westburn at the time of the Domesday Book, the name was changed to Kirkburn after the building of St. Mary's Church in the village between 1130 to 1155; the word "kirk" meaning "church". The church was restored in the 19th century, the work being carried out by John Loughborough Pearson and George Edmund Street. In 1966 the church was designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[3] It is on the Sykes Churches Trail devised by the East Yorkshire Churches Group.[4]

An important archaeological relic was found in 1987 during the excavation of a nearby Iron Age grave, dated to the 3rd century BC. The Kirkburn Sword, as it became known, is described by the British Museum as "probably the finest Iron Age sword in Europe". Its handle is assembled of 37 pieces of iron, bronze and horn and decorated with red glass. Its scabbard is made of iron and polished bronze, decorated with a scroll pattern in La Tène style, with red glass studs and insets. Also in the British Museum are Celtic Iron Age finds from a chariot burial discovered only 10 metres away from the man who was buried with the Kirkburn sword. They include an ornately decorated pair of linchpins from the chariot's axle.[5]

From 1890 until 1954 Kirkburn was served by Southburn railway station on the Selby to Driffield Line.[6][7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics: Area: Kirkburn CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  2. "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Kirkburn CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  3. Historic England. "The Church of St Mary (1083797)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  4. "Sykes Churches Trail Southern Route". Beverley, East Yorkshire: East Yorkshire Historic Churches Group.
  5. British Museum Highlights
  6. Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0508-1. OCLC 60251199.
  7. Bairstow, Martin (1990). Railways In East Yorkshire. Martin Bairstow. ISBN 1-871944-03-1.
  • Gazetteer AZ of Towns Villages and Hamlets. East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 2006. p. 7.

External links