Featherstone

Coordinates: 53°42′N 1°22′W / 53.70°N 1.37°W / 53.70; -1.37

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 [Featherstone] and Prestone [Purston] and Arduwic [Hardwick] and Osele [Nostell], Ligulf had 16 carucates of land for geld, and 6 ploughs may be there." 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.

Featherstone (surname)

Featherstone is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

HM Prison Featherstone

HM Prison Featherstone is a Category C men's prison, located in the village of Featherstone (near Wolverhampton), in Staffordshire, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.

History

Featherstone Prison was constructed on property previously owned by the Ministry of Defence. Brinsford Prison was opened on the same site, adjacent to Featherstone in 1991.

In a 2001 study by the Prison Reform Trust, Featherstone Prison was revealed to have the highest number of drug-using prisoners in the UK. 34% of all inmates in the jail admitted to taking drugs. A year later it was revealed that inmates were brewing their own beer using Marmite, with fruit and vegetables also being used to make alcoholic drinks. However the governor of the day Mike Pasco stated that, while not condoning the practice, he found it preferable to the inmates smuggling hard drugs into the prison.

In 2004, a report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons stated that the drug problems at Featherstone had been "turned around", and that the prison "was largely calm and efficient with little bullying". However the report also warned that improvements had not been made without a cost, as the new emphasis on security "pervaded the life" of the prison, creating an "over-controlled" environment.