Swerford is a village and civil parish on the River Swere in the Cotswold Hills in Oxfordshire, England.

[1] The Domesday Book records that in 1086 Swerford was part of the royal manor of Hook Norton, which was held by Robert D'Oyly.

The village has a motte-and-bailey castle which is believed to have been built early in the 12th century during the civil war between Empress Matilda and King Stephen.

[2] In 1783 Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch commissioned the building of the country house of Swerford Park as a hunting lodge.

[3] In 1820 General Sir R. Bolton, a successful army officer who was previously equerry to George IV (b.1766 - d. 1836) bought the house.

Bolton commissioned the artist and architect Joseph Gandy, who remodelled the house between 1824 and 1829 in the style of Sir John Soane.

The tunnel is now bricked up at both ends to prevent access, both for people's safety and to protect any bats that may roost inside.