Population 656 (2011) Region East Midlands Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Sunday 11:36 AM Shire county Leicestershire | OS grid reference SK 37083 10771 Country England Post town COALVILLE Dialling code 01530 District North West Leicestershire | |
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Weather 11°C, Wind NW at 11 km/h, 66% Humidity | ||
Swepstone is a village and civil parish in the North West Leicestershire district of Leicestershire, England, about five miles south of Ashby de la Zouch. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census 656. The parish includes the villages of Swepstone and Newton Burgoland.
Map of Swepstone, Coalville, UK
The earliest documentation of the village is found in the Domesday Book where it appears as Scopestone. Later documentary appearances are given as Swepeston from around 1130 to 1471, and Swepston from 1234. The name is probably derived from the Old English personal name Sweppes, and the suffix tūn, meaning "Sweppi's farm or village".
Swepstone farmers regularly sold their cattle in local market towns. In 1597 three Swepstone farmers, Richard Dudley, William Chilwell and Thomas Burrows were called to give evidence in an archdeaconry court case. It is recorded that the three were drinking together in an alehouse near the market square in Atherstone while their beasts were tethered outside.
Swepstone's only public house is The Odd House, which serves food.
Nearby, between Measham and Swepstone, United Kingdom Coal are extracting coal using open cast mining methods. Proposals to extend the mining area were being considered in 2013.