Featherstone is a town located between Wakefield and Pontefract, a pair of more famous neighbours both of which tourists are far more likely to have heard of. This seems unfair, since the settlement has probably been around as long as both them, being mentioned in the Domesday Book as Ferestane. Certainly, the name Featherstone has its origins in antiquity, since it is derived from the Old English feather (meaning four) and stān (meaning stone) and therefore means (with typical Old English simplicity) “place at the four stones”. In fact, it is the original village that is named in the Domesday Book and which is now named North Featherstone; the larger town south of this – where Featherstone Railway Station is located – is newer, having largely grown up around the coal mining industry and expanded considerably after the Industrial Revolution.
The original Featherstone station opened in 1848 and closed – along with the line – in 1967; it was rebuilt and reopened when the Penistone Line was reinstated in 1992, at the same time that Streethouse gained its station. From the station, our walk first leads us fairly rapidly out of the town and through countryside to North Featherstone. We head north along Station Lane, shortly passing a war memorial and garden on the left, then when the lane ends at Green Lane, we turn left past the Featherstone Hotel. When a signed bridle path appears on the right, follow it past a pond on the left, part of a large area of what looks suspiciously like more reclaimed colliery land, but doesn’t appear to have been granted a name on any of the more commonly available maps as of 2023. Regardless of the origins of this area, it makes for a pleasant walk as we continue straight ahead along the bridle path next to a belt of trees, ignoring all turn offs and eventually crossing Sewerbridge Beck. From here, we continue straight ahead up the hill, until the path ends at Ackton Lane in North Featherstone.
Turn left and walk past the Church of All Saints, Grade II*-listed and dating from the medieval period, probably the fifteenth century.
The Church of All Saints.
It is a classic village church and one of the most attractive buildings on our walk. Just after passing it, turn right and follow Fairfax Avenue and when this ends, continue straight ahead along a path, bearing right and then left past St. Wilfrid’s Catholic High School to reach Cutsyke Road. Here, take an optional detour to the left to visit Featherstone Cemetery, which has a pair of dilapidated brick cemetery chapels; otherwise, turn right and follow Cutsyke Road past the Bradley Arms, continuing straight ahead as the road becomes Willow Lane. Follow the lane, which becomes Featherstone Lane, for about a mile. The lane is aptly named linking North Featherstone with its larger, younger southern neighbour, to which we have now returned.
When the lane turns sharp right and becomes Green Lane, turn left along Halfpenny Lane and then immediately right along South View, following this as it becomes a track and ends at the railway line. Cross the pedestrian crossing over the railway, then bear right and follow a muddy path diagonally across a patch of scrubland to reach the Cricket Club drive. Bear right again and follow a path alongside the rugby ground of Featherstone Rovers (a rare surviving mining town rugby club, and probably Featherstone’s greatest claim to fame) to Post Office Road. Continue straight ahead along another footpath, taking an optional loop around a green space on the left, and eventually reaching Pontefract Road. Turn left and follow this past The Junction public house to reach The Travellers Rest, which can trace its origins to the seventeenth century (a little further along Pontefract Road there is another pub, the White House). Turn right in front of The Travellers Rest and Hall Street, looking out for a former Wesleyan Chapel (now a house) on the right; a discreet plaster sign above the door betrays its former function. When the road joins Ackworth Road cross over and bear left into Purston Park.
Walk past the Grade II-listed Purston Hall, a former stately home dating from the early nineteenth century, later used as a Town Hall, and now converted into flats; the park is the Hall’s former grounds.
Purston Hall.
Continue diagonally across the park to reach the duck pond, then bear slightly left and follow a path to the far end of the park. Exit via a kissing gate onto a path, then turn right and follow this until it joins Nunns Avenue. Continue straight ahead and at a small roundabout bear left along Girnhill Lane. Follow this when it bends sharp right, shortly passing Girnhill Lane Working Mens’ Club on the right. On reaching a cross roads, look left to see another war memorial and a colliery memorial in the form of an old quarry tub.
Turn right and follow Pontefract Road, then turn left along St. Thomas Road. On reaching another war memorial (Featherstone has a surprising number of them relative to its size), continue straight ahead through the grounds of the Church of St. Thomas, Grade II-listed and dating from 1876-1878. After passing the church, turn left along Victoria Street and at the end turn right along Station Lane to reach the Railway Hotel. A blue plaque next to the door celebrates the fact that Featherstone Rovers R.L.F.C. was formed there in 1902. Finally, continue past the hotel to return to the station.
With our visit to Featherstone complete, we now proceed eastwards, to a town much better known, if only for its confectionary. And whilst its importance may have dwindled, it is arguably the most historically significant location in the City of Wakefield…