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Photographs of Swarkestone, south Derbyshire, England

This page features pictures and historical information about the following:
Swarkestone, Derby canal. These are located in Derbyshire.


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• Photos of Swarkestone , South Derbyshire, England.
The 13th Century Swarkestone bridge and causeway, nearly a mile long, is a remarkable example of medieval public works and most important crossing-place.
In the 'battle of Swarkestone bridge' during the Civil war (1643) it was defended by the Royalists against the Parliamentarians, but the outnumbered Cavaliers lost the day.
Here it was in 1745 that Bonnie Prince Charlie turned back to Culloden.
Nearby is the Jacobean Grandstand and walled area, formerly connected with Harpur hall, where they used to bait bulls in the bad old days.
Click to see a LARGE version of this

Photo Description : Crewe & Harpur Arms pub
Image Reference No. : DP-080601SWARKSTONE-01
Exact map location : Click HERE
Date photo taken : 8th June 2001
Other Information : This stylish roadhouse is the Crewe & Harpur Arms, built about 200 years ago, it was originally a coaching inn on the Harpur Crewe estate. There has been an inn here for 800 years.
It has a nice beer garden next to the river Trent which is very popular on sunny afternoons.

Click to see a LARGE version of this
Photo Description : Swarkestone bridge
Image Reference No. : DP-080601SWARKSTONE-02
Date photo taken : 8th June 2001
Other Information : This is Swarkestone bridge which is a 1 mile very bendy bridge that you have to drive down to get to Melborne from Swarkestone.
This bridge was built in the 13th Century and is the longest stone bridge in England.
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Photo Description : Swarkestone bridge over the River Trent
Image Reference No. : DP-010102SWARKSTONE-03
Date photo taken : 1st January 2002
Other Information : This is Swarkestone bridge in snow on the first day of 2002. The Crewe and Harpur Arms pub can be seen on the left bank of the river. This is the River Trent.

Photo Description : St James Church.
Image Reference No. : DP-040904SWARKSTONE-04
Date photo taken : 4th September 2004
Other Information : This is the Parish Church of St James, it was restored in 1874-76, by F.J.Robinson, with only the south west tower and the Harpur chapel remaining intact. The chapel contains alabaster monuments to Sir Richard Harpur (1573) and Sir John Harpur (1627), and a chancel tomb to John Rolleston who died in 1482.
Photo Description : St James Church 2
Image Reference No. : DP-040904SWARKSTONE-10
Date photo taken : 4th September 2004
Other Information : This is another view of the Parish Church of St James.


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Photo Description : Jacobean Pavilion (Swarkestone Stand)
Image Reference No. : DP-091101SWARKSTONE-05
Exact Map Location : Click HERE
Date photo taken : 9th November 2001
Other Information : This strange building stands in the meadow above the village. In 1630-32, a banquetting house, called The stand, was built, set in a sward of rhomboid shape called The Cuttle. It was intended as a 'bowl alley house'. It was built at a cost of £11 12s 4d by the mason Richard Shepherd to a design which Girouard attributes on stylistic grounds to John Smythson. It is made from fine ashlar Keuper sandstone. It is decorated with the coat of arms of Sir John Harpur. After three centuries of dereliction, it was sold to the Landmark trust in 1984.
Swarkestone Hall was demolished by 1750, This pavilion survivied thanks to the Harpur Crewe family.
This splendid building is now owned by the Landmark Trust, and YOU can rent it for a holiday, What a great idea!.

See their website for more information HERE

This unique building was featured on the cover of the Rolling Stones album 'Beggar's Banquet'.

Photo Description : Jacobean Pavilion (Swarkestone Stand) 2
Image Reference No. : DP-040904SWARKSTONE-11
Date photo taken : 4th September 2004
Other Information : This is another view of the Jacobean Pavilion, this time with a cow in front of it.
Photo Description : Jacobean Pavilion (Swarkestone Stand) 3
Image Reference No. : DP-040904SWARKSTONE-12
Date photo taken : 4th September 2004
Other Information : This is another view of the Jacobean Pavilion, this time a straight on view of it.

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Photo Description : Swarkestone Lock on the Trent & Mersey canal
Image Reference No. : DP-091101SWARKSTONE-06
Date photo taken : 9th November 2001
Other Information : This is Swarkestone Lock. In the distance to the right is a small branch off the canal which used to be the former Derby Canal, See next photos.
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Photo Description : The end of the Derby Canal arm
Image Reference No. : DP-091101SWARKSTONE-07
Date photo taken : 9th November 2001
Other Information : This is the end of the former Derby canal. I took this photo from a bridge, which was restored by the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society in 1995. The Derby canal used to flow under it until it was abandoned in 1964.

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Photo Description : Restored accomodation bridge
Image Reference No. : DP-091101SWARKSTONE-08
Date photo taken : 9th November 2001
Other Information : This is a view of the bridge restored in 1995 and the path of the former Derby Canal, now overgrown with weeds. But you can just about make out the path of the Derby Canal here.
Click to see a LARGE version of this
Photo Description : The possible path of the new Derby Canal
Image Reference No. : DP-091101SWARKSTONE-09
Date photo taken : 9th November 2001
Other Information : This is the new A50 road. The new route of the Derby Canal may be directed so that it goes through this bridge and then on to Shelton Lock.




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