Hatfield near Doncaster is an ancient settlement and a Palace of the Northumbrian Kingdom called Meicen . On 12 October633 AD, King Edwin was killed in Battle of Hatfield Chase by Penda, King of Mercia. Penda was assisted in the battle by the Welsh under the leadership of Cadwallon ap Cadfan, Welsh King of Gwynedd. Osric, a possible successor to Edwin, was also killed in the battle. Edwin's son Edfrith also surrendered to Penda. It is thought that this battle gave rise to the name of in Hatfield where it is rumoured that the battle took place and the bodies of soldiers lay close by.
Constituent settlements
Hatfield contains the following villages:
Dunscroft
Dunscroft lies on the A18 road, about from the centre of Doncaster. It is located at approximately, at an elevation of around five metres above sea level. There is the primary school. The is dedicated to St Edwin. The village was enhanced in June 2005 by the addition of a pharmacy.
Dunsville
Dunsville lies on the A18 road, about from the centre of Doncaster. It is located at approximately, at an elevation of around five metres above sea level.
Hatfield
Hatfield lies on the A18 road, about from the centre of Doncaster. It is located at approximately, at an elevation of around five metres above sea level. It is served by the Hatfield and Stainforth railway station in Stainforth and Thorne. The Domesday Survey of 1086 mentions a church at Hatfield but nothing of that building remains to be seen. The present imposing parish of St. Lawrence was probably begun in the twelfth century. The south and west doors are Norman and so is the lower part of the outer walls of the nave. The Norman pebble construction can be seen quite clearly outside. Hatfield has numerous public houses, including The Bay Horse, The Hatfield Chase, Hatfields, The Blue Bell, The Ingram Arms and The Green Tree. The original building known as the Abbey or Dunscroft Grange was demolished in 1966–7. For the final twenty years, this building was owned by Mr Harry Lewis. The old Abbey was possibly a dormitory to Roche Abbey at Maltby. Unfortunately, it had to be demolished because the 12th-century masonry and stonework were unstable. The main school for the area is Ash Hill Academy. There is the and primary school.
Hatfield Woodhouse
Hatfield Woodhouse is a small, semi-rural village which lies on the A614 road, about from the centre of Doncaster. It is located at approximately, at an elevation of around five metres above sea level. It has a population of 137 people. Hatfield Woodhouse also gave rise to RAF Hatfield Woodhouse two miles south of the village. The airfield was later named RAF Lindholme. The new Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield is nearby, at Finningley close to the border with Nottinghamshire. Although there has been much debate surrounding the use of the name Robin Hood in the name of the airport, the longstanding existence of the pub Robin Hood and Little John helps to justify the case for the name, as does its proximity to Sherwood Forest and also Barnsdale Forest. Recently an application has been proposed to allow the demolition of the pub and several flats to be built in its place. This application has recently been denied due to rallies by locals to have the plans rejected. There is the primary .
West End
West End is a small village to the south-west of Hatfield Woodhouse. It is located at approximately, at an elevation of around five metres above sea level.
