Swarkeston Bridge. Photo © Alan Murray-Rust (cc-by-sa/2.0)
SWARKESTONE BRIDGE
The tiny village of Swarkestone lies just a few miles south of Derby. Sitting on the banks of the River Trent, it has a smattering of houses, a pub, a church, the remains of the old Swarkestone Hall and the Trent & Mersey Canal, a few hundred metres to the north. The area is low-lying and prone to flooding; just the kind of area that gave rise to the Trent’s original name which translates as ‘the Trespasser’.
What marks Swarkestone out, though, is the medieval causeway that crosses the River Trent here. This causeway is almost three quarters of a mile long and, whilst it has undergone many repairs over the centuries, significant amounts of its original medieval engineering remain. It is believed to be the longest medieval bridge in England. It is now a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The first record of Swarkestone Bridge dates back to 1276, though it is highly likely that some kind of bridge and causeway existed before that, possibly as far back as King John’s time in 1215, when he led his armies northward. It has also played its role in history too. During the English Civil War, in 1643, it was the site of the ‘Battle of Swarkestone Bridge’, where a small Royalist force tried to hold the bridge against a far larger Parliamentarian force, but were eventually overwhelmed. More famously, Swarkestone Bridge marks the southernmost point that Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army reached, before turning back north, to their eventual bloody defeat at Culloden. Ghosts of both civil war and Jacobite soldiers are said to haunt the bridge.
Today, the part that spans the River Trent itself was erected at the end of the eighteenth century, but, as it always did, this was joined to the causeway. If you visit the area, you can clearly see why not just a bridge, but an entire causeway was needed, particularly if you visit when the Trent is in flood. At these times, vast areas of land to either side of the bridge are under water and the Trent is transformed from its normal placid nature at this point in its meandering to a raging torrent. However, the medieval engineers, who built the causeway, allowed for this by creating many culverts and archways, to let the flood waters through.
We know - approximately - when the causeway was built, but an intriguing local legend gives an interesting and tragic account of the reason for its construction…
Many years ago, the Bellamont family were the residents of Swarkestone Hall. One fine day, the hall was host to a most joyous gathering; the betrothal of the two daughters of the Lord of the Manor to two local knights was taking place. Traditional medieval pursuits, such as tilting, hawking and hunting had been taking place over the past few days, as the betrothal ceremony approached. Unfortunately, fate took hold and the young knights were summoned to attend their lord and other barons, who were in a dispute with the tyrannical king (possibly Henry III). Despite the coming betrothal, the knight’s duty was clear and they departed with all speed to attend the assembly of nobles, south across the Trent.
At this time, no bridge spanned the Trent and no causeway marked a safe route across the river meadows beyond it. However, in fine weather, the Trent could easily be forded and the meadows crossed in comparative safety, especially on horseback. So the knights set off. Once the business of the assembly was completed, the two young knights were more than eager to make their way back to their beloveds with all speed, leaving the lord and his retinue to follow at a more leisurely pace. However, since departing Swarkestone Hall, heavy rains had fallen, leaving the meadows treacherously muddy and the River Trent now surging furiously along its course. Rashly, the knights were not to be deterred and reached the crossing as night fell. They guided their tired horses safely across the meadows without incident, but, as darkness fell, they headed into the roaring waters of the River Trent. Whether they missed the ford or were simply overwhelmed by the raging river, the two young knights were swept away to their depths, tragically within sight of Swarkestone Hall and their betrothed. Some say that their young ladies even witnessed this tragic turn of events.
Such was their grief that the young ladies considered themselves as widows from that day forward and dedicated themselves to ensuring that such a tragic fate should never befall anyone else. They went on to devote themselves and all their fortunes to the construction of a bridge and causeway, across the treacherous Trent and the marshy meadows beyond. By the end of their endeavours, they both ended their lives as penniless peasants, living together in a humble cottage, bare yards from where their young knights had lost their lives. Today, centuries after this tragic event, the ghosts of the two ladies are said to be seen haunting the banks of the River Trent, when storms rage.
The tiny village of Swarkestone lies just a few miles south of Derby. Sitting on the banks of the River Trent, it has a smattering of houses, a pub, a church, the remains of the old Swarkestone Hall and the Trent & Mersey Canal, a few hundred metres to the north. The area is low-lying and prone to flooding; just the kind of area that gave rise to the Trent’s original name which translates as ‘the Trespasser’.
What marks Swarkestone out, though, is the medieval causeway that crosses the River Trent here. This causeway is almost three quarters of a mile long and, whilst it has undergone many repairs over the centuries, significant amounts of its original medieval engineering remain. It is believed to be the longest medieval bridge in England. It is now a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The first record of Swarkestone Bridge dates back to 1276, though it is highly likely that some kind of bridge and causeway existed before that, possibly as far back as King John’s time in 1215, when he led his armies northward. It has also played its role in history too. During the English Civil War, in 1643, it was the site of the ‘Battle of Swarkestone Bridge’, where a small Royalist force tried to hold the bridge against a far larger Parliamentarian force, but were eventually overwhelmed. More famously, Swarkestone Bridge marks the southernmost point that Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army reached, before turning back north, to their eventual bloody defeat at Culloden. Ghosts of both civil war and Jacobite soldiers are said to haunt the bridge.
Today, the part that spans the River Trent itself was erected at the end of the eighteenth century, but, as it always did, this was joined to the causeway. If you visit the area, you can clearly see why not just a bridge, but an entire causeway was needed, particularly if you visit when the Trent is in flood. At these times, vast areas of land to either side of the bridge are under water and the Trent is transformed from its normal placid nature at this point in its meandering to a raging torrent. However, the medieval engineers, who built the causeway, allowed for this by creating many culverts and archways, to let the flood waters through.
We know - approximately - when the causeway was built, but an intriguing local legend gives an interesting and tragic account of the reason for its construction…
Many years ago, the Bellamont family were the residents of Swarkestone Hall. One fine day, the hall was host to a most joyous gathering; the betrothal of the two daughters of the Lord of the Manor to two local knights was taking place. Traditional medieval pursuits, such as tilting, hawking and hunting had been taking place over the past few days, as the betrothal ceremony approached. Unfortunately, fate took hold and the young knights were summoned to attend their lord and other barons, who were in a dispute with the tyrannical king (possibly Henry III). Despite the coming betrothal, the knight’s duty was clear and they departed with all speed to attend the assembly of nobles, south across the Trent.
At this time, no bridge spanned the Trent and no causeway marked a safe route across the river meadows beyond it. However, in fine weather, the Trent could easily be forded and the meadows crossed in comparative safety, especially on horseback. So the knights set off. Once the business of the assembly was completed, the two young knights were more than eager to make their way back to their beloveds with all speed, leaving the lord and his retinue to follow at a more leisurely pace. However, since departing Swarkestone Hall, heavy rains had fallen, leaving the meadows treacherously muddy and the River Trent now surging furiously along its course. Rashly, the knights were not to be deterred and reached the crossing as night fell. They guided their tired horses safely across the meadows without incident, but, as darkness fell, they headed into the roaring waters of the River Trent. Whether they missed the ford or were simply overwhelmed by the raging river, the two young knights were swept away to their depths, tragically within sight of Swarkestone Hall and their betrothed. Some say that their young ladies even witnessed this tragic turn of events.
Such was their grief that the young ladies considered themselves as widows from that day forward and dedicated themselves to ensuring that such a tragic fate should never befall anyone else. They went on to devote themselves and all their fortunes to the construction of a bridge and causeway, across the treacherous Trent and the marshy meadows beyond. By the end of their endeavours, they both ended their lives as penniless peasants, living together in a humble cottage, bare yards from where their young knights had lost their lives. Today, centuries after this tragic event, the ghosts of the two ladies are said to be seen haunting the banks of the River Trent, when storms rage.
Maidens haunting Swarkestone Bridge (AI).
So, the perennial question, is this legend true? The Bellamonts didn’t appear at Swarkestone Hall until much later in the seventeenth century. However, in Prestwold Church, near Loughborough, there is an impressive tomb, with carved effigies of two maidens, lying side-by-side. These are believed to be Mary and Elizabeth Nele, the original builders of Swarkestone Bridge. So, in the case of the Bellamonts, as with so many other legends, new retellings get laid upon the foundations of the old.