The village

Evidence of the Beaker people living near Swarkestone was discovered in the 1950s. At that time it was estimated that people had lived near Swarkestone for at least 3,800 years.^[3] The only surviving Bronze Age barrow cemetery in the Trent valley is at Swarkestone Lows near the A50. The barrow is a registered national monument.^[4]

In the Domesday Book, Swarkestone was held by the King (William the conqueror) and by Henry de Ferrers.^[2]

In the Battle of Swarkestone Bridge during the English Civil War (1643) it was defended by the Royalists against the Parliamentarians, but the outnumbered Cavaliers lost the day.

In 1745 during the Jacobite rising led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, the advance party of his army reached here to gain control of the crossing of the Trent. Finding no reports of support from the south, they turned back to Derby; the invading army then retreated to Scotland and final defeat at the Battle of Culloden. Swarkestone was thereby the most southerly point reached during that army's advance on London.^[5]

Swarkestone Bridge

Main article: Swarkestone Bridge

The ancient bridge at Swarkestone crosses the River Trent about 6 miles south of Derby and was for about 300 years the Midlands' main crossing of the Trent. The only crossing between Burton Upon Trent and Nottingham,^[6] it is currently Grade I Listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Swarkestone bridge was built in the 13th century to cross the river and its surrounding marshes, between the villages of Swarkstone and Stanton by Bridge.^[7] It was financed by the two Bellamont sisters. Both had become engaged and were to throw a joint celebration; their fiancés, however, had to meet the local barons on the far side of the river.^[6] Following a storm the Trent became swollen; eager to return to their brides-to-be and their party, the men tried to ford the river on horseback: both were swept away and drowned.^[6] The Bellamont sisters commissioned the bridge so that no one else would suffer the tragedy they had.^[6] Neither sister married and both died in poverty having exhausted their fortune on building the bridge.^[6] They were buried in a single grave in Prestwold, Leicestershire.^{[citation needed]}