Swarkestone
Encyclopedia
Swarkestone is a village and civil parish
in Derbyshire
, England
.
Swarkestone has a very old village church, a full cricket pitch, the Crewe and Harpur pub, a canal with locks, moorings and canalside tea-rooms. It was mentioned twice in Domesday
as Sorchestun or Suerchestune when it was worth twenty shillings.
about 6 miles south of Derby
and was for about 300 years the Midlands' main crossing of the Trent. The bridge is in total just under a mile long and has 17 arches. It was built in the 13th century to cross the river and its surrounding marshes. It is the longest stone bridge in England and holds Grade I listed building status. According to Pevsner the present part actually crossing the river, which has 5 arches, dates from the 18th century and was designed by Thomas Harrison
.
The bridge is undersized for modern traffic and is scarcely two-lane for cars at several points. Though there is a weight limit of 7.5 tonnes, the walls of the bridge often take damage from traffic. At the southern side of the bridge is Stanton by Bridge
.
Another notable landmark just outside the village is the twin towered Swarkestone Hall Pavilion
(see below) which was built as a folly. It is now owned by the Landmark Trust
who maintain it and rent it out to holidaymakers.
living near Swarkestone was discovered in the 1950s
. At that time it was estimated that people had lived near Swarkestone for at least 3,800 years.
In the Domesday Book
, Swarkestone was held by the King (William the conqueror) and by Henry de Ferrers
.
In the Battle of Swarkestone Bridge during the English Civil War
(1643) it was defended by the Royalists
against the Parliamentarians
, but the outnumbered Cavalier
s lost the day.
In 1745 during the Jacobite Rebellion
led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, the advance party of his army reached here to gain control of the crossing of the Trent. Finding no reports of support from the south, they turned back to Derby; the invading army then retreated to Scotland
and final defeat at the Battle of Culloden
. Swarkestone thereby being the most southerly point reached during that army's advance on London
.
grandstand called Swarkestone Hall Pavilion
and walled area, formerly connected with Harpur Hall, where (it is believed, see Pevsner, loc. cit.), they used to bait bulls
. The pavilion is attributed to John Smythson who also designed Bolsover Castle
. It was repaired and is now owned by the Landmark Trust
who maintain it and rent it out to holidaymakers.
at Twyford was the next crossing north of the Swarkestone Bridge.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Swarkestone has a very old village church, a full cricket pitch, the Crewe and Harpur pub, a canal with locks, moorings and canalside tea-rooms. It was mentioned twice in Domesday
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Sorchestun or Suerchestune when it was worth twenty shillings.
The bridge
The ancient bridge at Swarkestone crosses the River TrentRiver Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
about 6 miles south of Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and was for about 300 years the Midlands' main crossing of the Trent. The bridge is in total just under a mile long and has 17 arches. It was built in the 13th century to cross the river and its surrounding marshes. It is the longest stone bridge in England and holds Grade I listed building status. According to Pevsner the present part actually crossing the river, which has 5 arches, dates from the 18th century and was designed by Thomas Harrison
Thomas Harrison (architect)
Thomas Harrison was an English architect and engineer. He built a number of bridges, including Grosvenor Bridge in Chester. He also rebuilt parts of Chester and Lancaster castles...
.
The bridge is undersized for modern traffic and is scarcely two-lane for cars at several points. Though there is a weight limit of 7.5 tonnes, the walls of the bridge often take damage from traffic. At the southern side of the bridge is Stanton by Bridge
Stanton by Bridge
Stanton by Bridge is a village and civil parish in the English county of Derbyshire.-Description:St Michael's Church is on some of the highest ground. The church mostly dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, though with some Norman stonework...
.
Another notable landmark just outside the village is the twin towered Swarkestone Hall Pavilion
Swarkestone Hall Pavilion
Swarkestone Hall Pavilion also known as Swarkestone Stand and The Grandstand is a 17th Century Pavilion 200 metres north of the ruins of Swarkestone Hall, Swarkestone, Derbyshire. It is a Grade I listed building and may be found at...
(see below) which was built as a folly. It is now owned by the Landmark Trust
Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity, founded in 1965 by Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then gives them a new life by making them available for holiday rental...
who maintain it and rent it out to holidaymakers.
History
Evidence of the Beaker peopleBeaker culture
The Bell-Beaker culture , ca. 2400 – 1800 BC, is the term for a widely scattered cultural phenomenon of prehistoric western Europe starting in the late Neolithic or Chalcolithic running into the early Bronze Age...
living near Swarkestone was discovered in the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
. At that time it was estimated that people had lived near Swarkestone for at least 3,800 years.
In the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, Swarkestone was held by the King (William the conqueror) and by Henry de Ferrers
Henry de Ferrers
Henry de Ferrers was a Norman soldier from a noble family who took part in the conquest of England and is believed to have fought at the Battle of Hastings of 1066 and, in consequence, was rewarded with much land in the subdued nation.His elder brother William fell in the battle. William and Henri...
.
In the Battle of Swarkestone Bridge during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
(1643) it was defended by the Royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
against the Parliamentarians
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
, but the outnumbered Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
s lost the day.
In 1745 during the Jacobite Rebellion
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, the advance party of his army reached here to gain control of the crossing of the Trent. Finding no reports of support from the south, they turned back to Derby; the invading army then retreated to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and final defeat at the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
. Swarkestone thereby being the most southerly point reached during that army's advance on London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The Pavilion
Nearby is the JacobeanJacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
grandstand called Swarkestone Hall Pavilion
Swarkestone Hall Pavilion
Swarkestone Hall Pavilion also known as Swarkestone Stand and The Grandstand is a 17th Century Pavilion 200 metres north of the ruins of Swarkestone Hall, Swarkestone, Derbyshire. It is a Grade I listed building and may be found at...
and walled area, formerly connected with Harpur Hall, where (it is believed, see Pevsner, loc. cit.), they used to bait bulls
Bull-baiting
Bull-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of bulls.-History:In the time of Queen Anne of Great Britain, bull-baiting was practiced in London at Hockley-in-the-Hole, twice a week – and was reasonably common in the provincial towns...
. The pavilion is attributed to John Smythson who also designed Bolsover Castle
Bolsover Castle
Bolsover Castle is a castle in Bolsover, Derbyshire, England .-History:It was built by the Peverel family in the 12th century and became Crown property in 1155 when the third William Peverel fled into exile...
. It was repaired and is now owned by the Landmark Trust
Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity, founded in 1965 by Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then gives them a new life by making them available for holiday rental...
who maintain it and rent it out to holidaymakers.
See also
The chain ferryCable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
at Twyford was the next crossing north of the Swarkestone Bridge.