Swynnerton
| Swynnerton | |
| Staffordshire | |
|---|---|
 St Mary's Church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SJ851355 |
| Location: | 52°55’1"N, 2°13’18"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 4,453 (2011) |
| Post town: | Stone |
| Postcode: | ST15 |
| Dialling code: | 01782 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Stafford |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Stoke-on-Trent South |
Swynnerton is a village in the north of Staffordshire, about halfway between Newcastle-under-Lyme to the north and Stafford to the south. The M5 motorway tears by less than a mile east of the village.
At the 2011 census the village and its wider civil parish had a recorded population of 4,453.
Swynnerton is listed in the Domesday Book, identifying the lord in 1066 as Brothir (of Oaken) and in 1086, Edelo (of Rauceby), who was in service to Robert de Stafford, the tenant-in-chief. The record shows the settlement consisted of ten villagers' households, and five smallholders. Property consisted of eight ploughlands suitable for one lord's plough teams, and six men's plough teams. Other resources are listed as ten acres of meadow, and one league of woodland. The owner's value was estimated at £2.[1]
Parish church
St Mary's Church dates back to at least the 13th century, and as far back as the 11th century.[2][3]
History
Swynnerton received a market charter from King Edward I in 1306. During the 14th century a market used to be held every Wednesday and an annual fair was held on 15 August each year.
A grand manor house used to exist until its destruction in the Civil War by Cromwell's men, its replacement being Swynnerton Hall, built in 1725 by Francis Smith of Warwick, which still dominates the Swynnerton skyline today. The Roman Catholic church of Our Lady[4] adjoins the hall, which was built in 1868 by Gilbert Blount. Most of the houses in the village are post Second World War.
Nearby Cold Meece houses an Army training area that used to be a Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Swynnerton. It is often used by the Air Training Corps and the Army Cadet Force, but is also a regular training area for the Army. During the war, the factory was served by Cold Meece railway station.
About the village
The village pub, the Fitzherbert Arms,[5] has three bars, two dining areas and accommodation. The nearby Swynnerton village hall is a popular venue for social and sports activities with capacity for around a 100 people.
HS2
Government plans for a new high speed rail line (part of what was known as HS2) to pass directly to the north of the village were first confirmed in 2013.[6]
It immediately provoked controversy, with the nearest station intended for Crewe railway station over 20 miles away, due to local impact and lack of considered benefits to Staffordshire including from the current resident of Swynnerton Hall, Lord Stafford.[7] An Act of Parliamnet was passed allowing for the compulsory purchase of properties for the route.
In late 2021 eco campaigners opposed to the destruction of specific ancient woodlands along the route arrived outside the village and set up encampments within local woodlands earmarked for demolition. Nevertheless, work continued, until in 2023 the Transport Secretary announced a two year 'phased delay' to HS2 due to spiralling costs.[8] Whether work will resume is uncertain.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Swynnerton) |
- Swynnerton Parish Council
- Swynnerton Village Hall
- Website of Potteries.org, with old pictures, drawings and historical narrative about St. Mary's Church
References
- ↑ Swynnerton in the Domesday Book
- ↑ "Swynnerton". GENUKI. 2012-12-05. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Swynnerton/.
- ↑ Website of St Mary's Church, Swynnerton retrieved Jan 2017
- ↑ "Our Lady of the Assumption, Swynnerton". http://ourladyoftheassumption.org.uk/.
- ↑ "History | The Fitzherbert Arms" (in en-US). https://fitzherbertarms.co.uk/history/.
- ↑ "Public Rights of Way within a 3km buffer of the proposed HS2 route Wrinehill to Swynnerton (shown in red)". Staffordshire County Council. https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Transport/trains/High-speed-rail-phase-2/Documents/HS2-route-and-PROW-within-a-3KM-buffer---Wrinehill-to-Swynnerton.pdf.
- ↑ "Exclusive: Stop HS2 carving up my historic estate". 10 August 2013. https://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport/2013/08/10/exclusive-stop-hs2-carving-up-my-historic-estate/.
- ↑ Topham, Gwyn (9 March 2023). "HS2 to be delayed by two more years due to soaring costs". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/09/parts-hs2-delayed-two-years-cut-soaring-costs-rail-project.