Swithland
Encyclopedia
Swithland is a linear village
in the Charnwood
borough of Leicestershire
, England
. It is in the old Charnwood Forest
, between Cropston
and Woodhouse
and Woodhouse Eaves
. Although small, it has a village hall, a parish church, and a pub
. The village is known for the slate
that was quarried in the area.
. Part of the village had become held by the Danvers (originally D'Anvers) family by 1412, and between 1509 and 1796, the whole village was held by the Danvers family. The village includes the 13th century St. Leonard's parish church, which retains the original arcade
s and has an 18th century west tower built for Sir John Danvers. The church includes monuments to Agnes Scott
, Sir John Danvers (actually installed on Danvers' instruction six years before his death) and five of his children. The churchyard of St. Leonard's includes the tomb of Sir Joseph Danvers (1686—1753), which was built half inside the graveyard and half outside (on Danvers' estate) to allow his favourite dog to be buried with him (the dog buried on unconsecrated ground). Swithland was designated a conservation area
in 1993, and includes 31 listed buildings, including the Grade I Mountsorrel
Cross, and several Grade II buildings including the school, which was built in 1843 and a cottage from 1842. The village pub, the Griffin Inn, originally the Griffin Hotel, was built c.1700 and has been put to several uses in its history, including a brewery
, bakery
, and village mortuary. An annual village fair was held in Victorian
times outside the pub on the Feast of St. Leonard
in November.
estate was held by the family of Danvers until 1796 but after the death of Sir John Danvers (the last male of his line) it passed to his son-in-law, Augustus Richard Butler, second son of the second Earl of Lanesborough, who adopted the surname of Danvers-Butler and afterwards inherited the title of Earl of Lanesborough
. The original Swithland Hall, which stood at the eastern end of the village as it is today, on the site now occupied by Hall Farm, was destroyed by fire in 1822, although part of the hall's boundary wall, including two towers are still in existence, both of which are on Main Street. The current hall, a Grade II listed building, was partially completed in 1834 and finished in 1852, on a different site to the south-east, in what was then known as Swithland Park, by John George Danvers Butler, sixth Earl of Lanesborough. The estate includes the lantern cross
that originally stood in Mountsorrel that dates from c.1500 and which was moved to its current location in Swithland Park in 1793 by Sir John Danvers, replacing it with the Buttermarket cross that still stands there.
times, and was an important activity within the village between the 13th and 19th centuries. Until the middle of the 19th century Swithland slate was much in demand for roofing and for gravestones, since when the site has reverted to nature, with the slate pits now flooded with water and sometimes used by divers
. In the 17th and 18th centuries, slate carved in Swithland as grave stones was much in demand. One type found only in a group of villages in the Vale of Belvoir
are called "Belvoir Angels". Slates from Swithland for roofing were once commonly used but demand reduced when slates from Wales, which were thinner and lighter, became available. A memorial stone stands in the centre of the village to commemorate the local slate industry.
The land to the north and south of the village is used for farming
, both arable
and dairy
. Swithland Spring Water, based at Hall Farm, sells locally-bottled spring water which is collected from a source beneath the farm.
, completed in 1896, is the largest reservoir in Charnwood, situated to the north-east of the village. It is accessible via the causeway road to the east of the village and with a dam
that can be reached by Kinchley Lane from Mountsorrel, and is a popular site for birdwatching
, as well as for walking. Swithland Wood
, to the south-west of the village, is near to Bradgate Park
. This large area of woodland around a former slate quarry is a popular walking, riding, and picnicking spot.
, the last main line ever built linking the north of England
with London
. When opened on 15 March 1899, it was planned for Swithland to have its own station, the Great Central having visions of turning the area into a tourist spot. This never came into fruition, but a bricked-over stairway under the bridge of the railway provides evidence that these plans were taken into serious consideration. A small set of railway exchange sidings
were built at this location, however the nearest passenger station was erected at Rothley
. The preserved Great Central Railway
is currently restoring these sidings to working order. The railway line extends to Rothley to the south and Quorn & Woodhouse
and Loughborough
to the north, crossing Swithland reservoir by a two-part viaduct
.
Linear village
In geography, a linear village, or linear settlement, is a small to medium-sized settlement that is formed around a transport route, such as a road, river, or canal. Wraysbury, a village in Berkshire, is one of the longest villages in England....
in the Charnwood
Charnwood (borough)
Charnwood is a borough of northern Leicestershire, England. It is named after Charnwood Forest, which it contains. Loughborough is the largest town in the district and serves as the borough's administrative and commercial centre.-History:...
borough of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, 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...
. It is in the old Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest is an upland tract in north-western Leicestershire, England, bounded by Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. The area is undulating, rocky and picturesque, with barren areas. It also has some extensive tracts of woodland; its elevation is generally 600 ft and upwards, the area...
, between Cropston
Cropston
Cropston is a village within the civil parish of Thurcaston & Cropston, part of the Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England. It is on the edge of Charnwood Forest, and lies close to Bradgate Park. The village itself is small, with the older properties close to the crossroads of Reservoir and...
and Woodhouse
Woodhouse, Leicestershire
Woodhouse, often known to locals as Old Woodhouse, is a small village in the heart of Charnwood, England. Located between the larger Woodhouse Eaves and Quorn villages, this picturesque village, with a mixture of small cottages and large modern houses, is one of the most expensive villages in the...
and Woodhouse Eaves
Woodhouse Eaves
Woodhouse Eaves is a village located on the side of Beacon Hill, in the Charnwood Forest area of Leicestershire, England.It is a sizeable rural village, having several pubs and a few shops...
. Although small, it has a village hall, a parish church, and a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
. The village is known for the slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
that was quarried in the area.
History
Swithland was originally held by GrobyGroby
Groby is a large English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2001 census was 7,301.-Description:...
. Part of the village had become held by the Danvers (originally D'Anvers) family by 1412, and between 1509 and 1796, the whole village was held by the Danvers family. The village includes the 13th century St. Leonard's parish church, which retains the original arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
s and has an 18th century west tower built for Sir John Danvers. The church includes monuments to Agnes Scott
Black Annis
Black Annis, also known as Black Agnes, is a bogeyman figure in English folklore. She is imagined as a blue-faced crone or witch with iron claws and a taste for human flesh...
, Sir John Danvers (actually installed on Danvers' instruction six years before his death) and five of his children. The churchyard of St. Leonard's includes the tomb of Sir Joseph Danvers (1686—1753), which was built half inside the graveyard and half outside (on Danvers' estate) to allow his favourite dog to be buried with him (the dog buried on unconsecrated ground). Swithland was designated a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
in 1993, and includes 31 listed buildings, including the Grade I Mountsorrel
Mountsorrel
Mountsorrel is a village in Leicestershire on the River Soar, just south of Loughborough with a population in 2001 of 6,662 inhabitants.-Geography:...
Cross, and several Grade II buildings including the school, which was built in 1843 and a cottage from 1842. The village pub, the Griffin Inn, originally the Griffin Hotel, was built c.1700 and has been put to several uses in its history, including a brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
, and village mortuary. An annual village fair was held in Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
times outside the pub on the Feast of St. Leonard
Leonard of Noblac
Leonard of Noblac or of Limoges or de Noblet , is a Frankish saint closely associated with the town and abbey of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, in Haute-Vienne, in the Limousin of France.-Traditional biography:According to the romance that...
in November.
The Swithland estate
The Swithland HallSwithland Hall
thumb|From Morris's Country Seats Swithland Hall is a country house in Swithland, Leicestershire.Designed by James Pennethorne, it was partially completed in 1834 and finished by 1852...
estate was held by the family of Danvers until 1796 but after the death of Sir John Danvers (the last male of his line) it passed to his son-in-law, Augustus Richard Butler, second son of the second Earl of Lanesborough, who adopted the surname of Danvers-Butler and afterwards inherited the title of Earl of Lanesborough
Earl of Lanesborough
Earl of Lanesborough was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1756 for Humphrey Butler, 2nd Viscount Lanesborough. The Butler family descended from Theophilus Butler, who represented County Cavan and Belturbet in the Irish House of Commons...
. The original Swithland Hall, which stood at the eastern end of the village as it is today, on the site now occupied by Hall Farm, was destroyed by fire in 1822, although part of the hall's boundary wall, including two towers are still in existence, both of which are on Main Street. The current hall, a Grade II listed building, was partially completed in 1834 and finished in 1852, on a different site to the south-east, in what was then known as Swithland Park, by John George Danvers Butler, sixth Earl of Lanesborough. The estate includes the lantern cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
that originally stood in Mountsorrel that dates from c.1500 and which was moved to its current location in Swithland Park in 1793 by Sir John Danvers, replacing it with the Buttermarket cross that still stands there.
Industry
Slate quarrying in the area dates back to RomanRoman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
times, and was an important activity within the village between the 13th and 19th centuries. Until the middle of the 19th century Swithland slate was much in demand for roofing and for gravestones, since when the site has reverted to nature, with the slate pits now flooded with water and sometimes used by divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
. In the 17th and 18th centuries, slate carved in Swithland as grave stones was much in demand. One type found only in a group of villages in the Vale of Belvoir
Vale of Belvoir
The Vale of Belvoir is an area of natural beauty on the borders of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire in England. Indeed, the name itself derives from the Norman-French for beautiful view.-Extent and geology:...
are called "Belvoir Angels". Slates from Swithland for roofing were once commonly used but demand reduced when slates from Wales, which were thinner and lighter, became available. A memorial stone stands in the centre of the village to commemorate the local slate industry.
The land to the north and south of the village is used for farming
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, both arable
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
and dairy
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
. Swithland Spring Water, based at Hall Farm, sells locally-bottled spring water which is collected from a source beneath the farm.
Local attractions
Swithland ReservoirSwithland Reservoir
Swithland Reservoir is a reservoir in the English county of Leicestershire. It is north-east of the village of Swithland from which it takes its name, north-west of Rothley and approximately 133 metres south-west of Mountsorrel Quarry. The dam is at the north end and is crossed by Kinchley Lane...
, completed in 1896, is the largest reservoir in Charnwood, situated to the north-east of the village. It is accessible via the causeway road to the east of the village and with a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
that can be reached by Kinchley Lane from Mountsorrel, and is a popular site for birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
, as well as for walking. Swithland Wood
Swithland Wood
Swithland Wood is a public woodland in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire. Although close to the village of Swithland, it is almost entirely within the parish of Newtown Linford. It is just north of Bradgate Park and also near Woodhouse Eaves and Cropston...
, to the south-west of the village, is near to Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park is a public park in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire, England, just northwest of Leicester. It covers 850 acres . The park lies between the villages of Newtown Linford, Anstey, Cropston, Woodhouse Eaves and Swithland. The River Lin runs through the park, flowing into Cropston...
. This large area of woodland around a former slate quarry is a popular walking, riding, and picnicking spot.
Great Central railway line
Towards the Rothley end of the village runs the Great Central RailwayGreat Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
, the last main line ever built linking the north of 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...
with 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...
. When opened on 15 March 1899, it was planned for Swithland to have its own station, the Great Central having visions of turning the area into a tourist spot. This never came into fruition, but a bricked-over stairway under the bridge of the railway provides evidence that these plans were taken into serious consideration. A small set of railway exchange sidings
Swithland Sidings
Swithland Sidings is a set of railway sidings on the preserved Great Central Railway, situated just south of Swithland Reservoir and Swithland Viaduct which crosses it....
were built at this location, however the nearest passenger station was erected at Rothley
Rothley railway station
Rothley railway station is a heritage railway station on the preserved section of the Great Central Railway's London Extension. Built to the standard island platform pattern of country stations on the line, it originally opened on 15 March 1899 and has been restored to late Edwardian era...
. The preserved Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway (preserved)
The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway split into two adjacent sections, one in Leicestershire and the other Nottinghamshire.The Leicestershire section is currently Britain's only double track mainline heritage railway, with of working double track, period signalling, locomotives and...
is currently restoring these sidings to working order. The railway line extends to Rothley to the south and Quorn & Woodhouse
Quorn and Woodhouse railway station
Quorn and Woodhouse railway station is a heritage station on the Great Central Railway serving Quorn & Woodhouse in Leicestershire. Travelling south from Loughborough, it is the first station that is reached. Here there is a large station yard which is suitable for parking...
and Loughborough
Loughborough Central railway station
Loughborough Central Station is a railway station on the Great Central Railway and the Great Central Railway serving Loughborough....
to the north, crossing Swithland reservoir by a two-part viaduct
Swithland Viaduct
Swithland Viaduct is a railway viaduct in Leicestershire that carries the former Great Central Main Line over Swithland Reservoir. It is unusual in that it carries the line over a reservoir rather than a valley. It actually consists of two separate viaducts, with an embankment over Brazil Island...
.
External links
- Swithland village website
- Swithland at the Leicestershire Villages website
- Swithland Church website