Rufforth

Coordinates: 53°57′21″N 1°11′38″W / 53.95591°N 1.19379°W / 53.95591; -1.19379

Rufforth is a village in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It lies about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of York. The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book and dates from Saxon times.

Rufforth is the larger village in the civil parish of Rufforth with Knapton. The parish also includes the village of Knapton, and the Trenchard Road Estate on the edge of Acomb, York.

According to the 2001 census the parish of Rufforth with Knapton had a population of 950 of which 560 lived in Rufforth. In the 2011 census the parish of Rufforth with Knapton had a population of 1029 of which 633 lived in Rufforth.

History

The first record of a mill at Rufforth goes back to 1671. In 1868 J. Clayton, Esq. is recorded as being the lord of the manor and the chief landowner. According to the census of 1881, the population was 272.

RAF Rufforth was a purpose-built bomber airfield built to Class A specification. It was constructed during 1941 and opened on 10 June 1942 for use by Operational Training Units and later a Heavy Conversion Unit flying Halifaxes. The site remained in RAF hands until they finally departed in 1974. In July 1981 the site was sold and is now the site of the York Gliding Centre. and a microlight flying club.