Swarkestone

[1] Swarkestone has a very old village church, a full cricket pitch, a canal with a Georgian lock keepers cottage and moorings.

[4] In the Domesday Book, Swarkestone was held by the King (William the conqueror) and by Henry de Ferrers.

[2] In the Battle of Swarkestone Bridge during the English Civil War (1643) it was defended by the Royalists against the Parliamentarians, but the outnumbered Cavaliers lost the day.

In 1745 during the Jacobite rising 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.

[6] Following a storm the Trent became swollen; eager to return to their brides-to-be and their party, the men tried to ford the river on horseback: both were swept away and drowned.

Swarkestone Bridge
Swarkestone Pavilion