Wonderful Swarkestone with its tiny church (St. James) nestles by the
side of the often turbulent Trent. It has been inhabited for thousands
of years. Swarkestone Lowes to the north of the village is a Bronze Age
round barrow cemetery. Iron Age remains were found here when the A50 was
constructed.
The parish church was largely rebuilt in 1876 but there are alabaster
monuments to members of the Harpur family (dated 1577 and 1627) and a
tomb chest to John Rolleston (d. 1482).
The gracious 18th century bridge over the Trent leads south to one of
the wonders of the whole country, a medieval causeway nearly a mile
long across the Trent's often water-filled flood plain. Though often
heavily congested by traffic a journey across here is a delight as the
colours on the meadows change by the minute.
The elegant Georgian bridge was built in 1797 for £3500.
The Crewe and Harpur Arms
The little bridge chapel where travellers prayed before journeys across
the causeway has long since gone though at the Swarkestone end the
Crewe and Harpur Arms (above right and below) remains to refresh us, but it is not
unscathed.
Not long ago this was a small country pub but today it is
part of a large brewery chain and does a busy trade in bland "formula"
pub food.
In the pub garden you will find a monument to the Jacobite rebellion of
1745. Some outrunners of Bonnie Prince Charlie (encamped in Derby)
reached the river crossing in December 1745 before returning north to
Scotland. This was just about the furthest south the Scot's army
reached on their route to the capital. This event is re-enacted every December.
A nice place to relax on a summer's day - if you can ignore the traffic!
Swarkestone Hall and Stand
Close to the parish church are the scanty remains of old Harpur Hall
(the precursor of Calke Abbey) which includes a Jacobean grandstand (now a Landmark Trust property) to a
bowling green or bull-baiting ring. Most of the Hall remains date to
about 1630.
