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Featherstone is a town and civil parish in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it lies less than two miles south-west of Pontefract and in 2011 had a population of 15,244.〔 〕 Featherstone railway station is on the Pontefract Line. ==History== Despite most population growth taking place around the Industrial Revolution, Featherstone traces its history back much further than this. The Domesday Book (1086) records "In Ferestane () and Prestone () and Arduwic () and Osele (), Ligulf had 16 carucates of land for geld, and 6 ploughs may be there."〔Lorenzo Padgett. ''Chronicles of Old Pontefract'' facsimile published by Old Hall Press, Leeds 1993. Original published by Oswald Holmes, "Advertiser" Office, 1905〕 It is thought that a local public house, the ''Traveller's Rest'', can trace its origins to the 17th century whilst the ''Jubilee Hotel'' is a listed building which once provided a resting place for wealthy Victorians and their horses. Like many surrounding areas, Featherstone grew around coal mining. Coal had been mined at Featherstone since the 13th century and remains of bell pits can still be seen to the north of Park Lane at North Featherstone. In 1848, the opening of the Wakefield, Pontefract and Goole railway line through Featherstone provided the basis for large scale coal mining in Featherstone, by opening up new markets in the South of England and Europe. The town came to national attention during a miners' strike in 1893 when soldiers fired on striking miners, killing two.〔("Featherstone massacre will not be forgotten" ). ''Pontefract and Castleford Express'' (28 August 2013). Retrieved 6 August 2014.〕 A distinctive sculpture marking the centenary of the ''Featherstone Massacre'' stands in the shopping precinct and a large mural depicting the town's heritage can be seen at the town's main crossroads. Ackton Hall Colliery was the first pit to close following the end of the miners' strike and this could not be contested as geological difficulties had made it impossible for the pit to continue production. Opened in the 1950s, Purston Park takes up a large area of space and offers a lake and a children's play area. There was also previously a bowling green, until being changed to a rose garden in 2004. It has been made out of the grounds of what was originally a private residence and a country estate, with the stately home formerly acting as the town hall. This building was sold to developers in 2007 and has since been converted into luxury flats. Featherstone is undergoing continual change and as part of this a new, state-of-the-art £2.5-million community centre has been built in Station Lane. The "Pit Houses", the houses constituting a council estate which formerly belonged to the National Coal Board, have been demolished to make room for further developments. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Featherstone」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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