Driffield Bid For Town of Culture 2028
Why Driffield?
Driffield has a strong case for entering the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition, which is designed to spotlight towns with distinctive identities, rich local stories, and the ability to bring communities together through culture. The competition specifically celebrates the cultural contribution of small and medium-sized towns and offers significant investment and visibility to those that take part.
Driffield’s Cultural Heritage and Identity
Driffield’s heritage as the “Capital of the Wolds,” its agricultural traditions, market-town character, and strong sense of place align closely with the competition’s first judging criteria: Your Story. Towns are encouraged to showcase what makes them unique, and Driffield’s blend of rural culture, local history, and community pride provides a compelling narrative.
Key Strengths
- Driffield ‘The Capital of the Wolds’ – with a well-defined sense of place shaped by the Yorkshire Wolds, encouraging a long-standing tradition of outdoor life, from walking to nature tourism
- A Market Town with a long-standing market tradition and agricultural heritage. The Thursday Market remains a core part of local life, echoing the town’s historic role as a trading centre
- Historic storytelling and local legends — From Roman origins to the burial place of a King, Driffield’s heritage is enriched by stories passed down through generations
- Driffield Show – in its 150th year is the largest one-day agricultural show in the UK
- Driffield Canal opened in 1770, connecting Driffield to the Humber and the wider North Sea trading world, which changed the town’s fortunes for generations to come
- Driffield Railway arrived in 1846, didn’t just make transport easier — it reshaped Driffield’s identity, helping the town evolve from a rural market centre into a dynamic regional hub with strong economic ties, more diverse industries, and greater regional importance
- John Robert Mortimer mattered to Driffield’s heritage because he defined how the region’s ancient past was discovered, recorded, and understood. His work turned Driffield from a small market town into one of Britain’s most important centres for early archaeological research
- Benjamin Fawcett mattered to Driffield’s heritage because he transformed the town into an unlikely centre of world-class Victorian colour printing. His work shaped Driffield’s cultural identity, left a lasting artistic legacy, and connected the town to major natural-history publishing projects of the 19th century
- Wold Rangers were itinerant labourers who travelled the Wolds following ancient routes. Their stories and paths are preserved today through heritage trails of the Wold Rangers Way, keeping alive the memory of a unique rural subculture
- A Sporting Town which has always mattered so much to Driffield’s heritage because it sits right at the crossroads of the town’s identity: a rural market centre, a community built on agricultural labour, and a place where gathering, competing, and celebrating have always been part of local life
- Music – from the Driffield Silver Band, who have been part of the town since 1837, to Mick ‘Woody’ Woodmansey: a rock drummer known for his work with David Bowie and The Spiders from Mars
- Discover Driffield – from bustling markets, car shows and family fun days to modern initiatives like the Discover Driffield Loyalty Card, which builds on the tradition of supporting local traders and maintaining a strong community economy
- Scrambling – the tradition of New Year’s scrambling dates back at least 200 years and sees the children of Driffield gather in the town where shopkeepers shower them with coins and sweets
- No. 43 Market Place is a new and developing creative venue owned by Driffield Town Council, supported by local artists, makers, and cultural volunteers
