Population 145 (2011) Country England Post town DONCASTER Dialling code 01302 | Metropolitan borough Doncaster Sovereign state United Kingdom Metropolitan county South Yorkshire Civil parish Owston | |
 | ||
Region Yorkshire and the Humber | ||
Owston is a small village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in rural South Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the village is situated amongst mixed farmland and woodland 6 miles (9.7 km) north north west of Doncaster, just west of the A19. It has a population of 170, reducing to 145 at the 2011 Census>
The name 'Owston' is of Old Scandinavian and Old English origin. It means 'East farmstead', being composed of the Old Scandinavian word austr ('east') and the Old English word tun ('farmstead'). In the Domesday Book, the village was recorded as Austhun.
Close to the village is a site of special scientific interest called Owston Hay Meadows which is the second best example of neutral grassland hay meadow in South Yorkshire. The site consists of three small fields which together cover 13½ acres (5½ hectares) and were notified in 1979.