The name 'Church Fenton' means a village with a church in fen or marshland. The village was recorded along with nearby Little Fenton as Fentun in the Domesday Book of 1086, with no mention of a church. However in 1338 the establishment of church was signified by the name Kirk Fenton. The two names have been variously used to describe either the village or a parish including the hamlets of Little Fenton to the south and Biggin to the south-east. The area was agricultural with some quarry work until the arrival of the Leeds and Selby Railway in 1839, resulting in the development of local industry, including a brickworks and tileworks. There was also a gas holder and tank works in the 1920s. Further lines to Harrogate, Leeds and York followed, so that at one point there were three stations. All but one were demolished in the 1990s. A row of terraced houses is called Chicory Row indicating the crop which was grown, boiled and bottled locally at one time. In 1936 RAF Church Fenton was built as a fighter base and took part in the defence of northern cities and the east coast during the Second World War. Later it was used as a pilot training base. It was in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but is now in the county of North Yorkshire.
Amenities
The village has a community shop which is run by the residents of the village as volunteers and two public house: The Fenton Flyer and the newly reopened White Horse pub which was bought by the villagers through a share buy in scheme. Formerly there were three pubs. The former railway station booking office is now a licensed Indian restaurant, Sunar Bangla. The school, Kirk Fenton Parochial Church of EnglandPrimary School reflects the name of the parish. Village commuters are served by Church Fenton railway station. The village is also home to a Met Office Weather station. The studio scenes for the 2016 television seriesVictoria were filmed in a converted aircraft hangar in Church Fenton.
Buildings
The church of St Mary the Virgin, on Church Street, dates from the 13th century, with a 15th century tower and is one of the smallest cruciform churches in England. It is a Grade I listed building. The Old Vicarage, on Main Street is also a listed building, Grade II, as is the Village Cross. The church was originally dedicated to St John the Baptist and one of the three bells has the figure of St John. It is of Magnesian Limestone with slate roofing. The tower is square with battlements and as well as the bells contains a clock which was installed in 1780. It is fitted with aircraft warning lights because of the nearby aerodrome. The Methodist church dates from 1892.
