Swarland
| Swarland | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Swarland Old Hall | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NU165035 |
| Location: | 55°19’30"N, 1°44’31"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Morpeth |
| Postcode: | NE65 |
| Dialling code: | 01670 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Northumberland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Berwick-upon-Tweed |
Swarland is a small modern village in the county of Northumberland, about seven miles south of the county town, Alnwick, twenty-five miles north of the county's only city, Newcastle upon Tyne. Swarland's 'village rival' is Felton.
History
The manor of Swarland was owned from ancient times by the de Haslerigg family of Swarland Old Hall until the 18th century. In 1741 the estate was purchased by Richard Grieve of Swansford. In 1765 his son Davison Richard Grieve commissioned the architect John Carr to build a new park and mansion, Swarland Hall. The new house was later the home of Alexander Davison, a friend of Horatio Nelson, who in 1807 erected the Nelson Memorial on the park. Many of the modern local street names are linked with Nelson, including Nelson Drive, Admiral Close and Lady Hamilton Drive.
The new Hall was demolished in the early 1930s and in 1936 a new village of 77 cottages was built on the estate by the Fountains Abbey Settlers Trust.
Present day
The village has a sporting culture; with various amenities at hand such as: 3 tennis courts, a 5-a-side court, football field, equestrian centre and an astroturf bowling green. It also hosts Percy Wood Country Retreat and Golf Course that is part of the old Percy Wood area and a tourist attraction.
About the village
Swarland Old Hall is a small, 17th-century country house and is a Grade II* listed building. The house which has a four-bay south front and two storeys with attics was built in the late 17th century and incorporates fabric of earlier properties. The east front is notable for its castellated full height screen wall with three blind Gothic arches.
A railed monument nearby (Grade II listed) records the death of William Haslerigg in 1681. His brother and heir was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1698.
A little over a mile to the west of the village, by the Swarland Burn, are the ruins of Overgrass Tower, a mediæval tower house dating from the fourteenth or fifteenth century.
Sports and Recreation
The first recorded leek show in Northumberland was held in Swarland in 1846.[1]
An annual pantomime is performed by the local drama group. Traditionally performed during December, over the last few years, it has been performed during February. Some of the recent performances have included takes on Star Trek, Sleeping Beauty and Westerns.
There is a Working Men's Club in the village. Every year, the working men's club holds a quoits competition, which is affectionately claimed by locals to be the 'Quoits World Championships'.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Swarland) |
- Swarland Hall entry from The DiCamillo Companion to British & Irish Country Houses
- The Swarland Chronicles: Independent Online Magazine
References
- ↑ Henderson, Tony (2008-08-14). "Decline in visitors fells top leek show". The Journal. NCJ Media. http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/08/14/decline-in-visitors-fells-top-leek-show-61634-21529655/2/. Retrieved 2008-09-12.