The history in brief
Driffield School is unique amongst other schools in East Yorkshire in having its own very impressive Field Centre. Situated in the North York Moors National Park a short distance from Pickering, Spiers Bank House is a former shooting lodge which the Forestry Commission acquired and used as a small holding for its workers until 1966.
At this point it was leased by the school and remained in almost continuous use until a brief period of closure prior to its refurbishment in 1980. Two years later, with the help of a five year bank loan, the school purchased the property and in 1983 the Spiers Bank House Trust was formed. The acquisition of charitable status was an important milestone in safeguarding the future of this most special of assets. Although primarily a school resource, the Trust is keen to promote the fact that the centre can also be used by others in the local community for suitable activities, depending upon its availability. The Trust has been a most effective means of ensuring, not only the efficient management of the centre, but also that the community served by the school is kept informed of its development and potential. Since the inception of the Trust the property has been further developed and upgraded with the addition of greatly enhanced cooking and dormitory facilities, the work being completed by professionals assisted by groups of dedicated volunteers. Routine maintenance of the centre is also undertaken on a voluntary basis.
