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Swillington

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Population
  
3,381 (2011 census)

Civil parish
  
Swillington

Country
  
England

Metropolitan county
  
West Yorkshire

OS grid reference
  
SE385305

Metropolitan borough
  
City of Leeds

Local time
  
Sunday 12:19 PM

Dialling code
  
0113

Swillington httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb7

Region
  
Yorkshire and the Humber

Weather
  
12°C, Wind N at 6 km/h, 69% Humidity

Swillington and featherstone lions 1 minute burpee challenge


Swillington is a village and civil parish near Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. It is situated 5 miles (8 km) east from Leeds city centre, east from the River Aire, and is surrounded by streams including Fleakingley Beck. In 2001, Swillington had a population of about 3,530, reducing to 3,381 at the 2011 Census. From the 2011 Census details are also included in the City of Leeds ward of Garforth and Swillington.

Contents

Map of Swillington, Leeds, UK

Swillington was a coal mining village until the closure of Primrose Hill pit. Where that once stood is now a housing estate with streets named after the colliery.

The village is close to St Aidan's nature reserve, and the Leeds Country Way which passes through the village. The population of Swillington decreased to 3,088 in 2011.

Swillington to great preston x3 speed


Etymology

The name Swillington is first attested in the Domesday Survey in the forms "Suillictun", "Suilligtune" and "Suillintun". Its etymology is uncertain, but probably derives from Old English swīn "pig" + either lēah "open ground" or hyll "hill" + ing, a suffix which in this case marks the word as a place-name + tūn "estate, farm". The Dictionary of British Place Names gives a derivation from "farmstead near the pig hill (or clearing)."

The name was recorded as "Svilentone" in 1147. Historically Swillington's full title was Swillington-in-Elmet, which refers to the association of the village with the early medieval polity of Elmet. However, as with many other places the "-in-Elmet" has been lost in modern times with only a few exceptions such as Barwick-in-Elmet and Sherburn-in-Elmet surviving. Nowadays Elmet only exists as a political constituency.

Economy

Swillington sits at the centre of an agricultural community, and includes Leventhorpe Vineyard and an organic farm.

Leventhorpe Vineyard, established in 1986, is near the village, and has been recommended by Rick Stein. It was until recently the most northerly commercial vineyard in Britain—there is now one further north, near Malton.

The Soil Association-certified organic farm on the former Lowther estate has been frequented by celebrity chefs, and has produce voted the 'Best Meat In Yorkshire' in 2007.

Landmarks

Swillington sits on the banks of the River Aire, and is adjacent to the RSPB St Aidan's Nature Reserve. The parish church of St Mary is a Grade II* listed building of 14th- or 15th-century origin, with Victorian additions. Leventhorpe Hall, within the parish and to the west of the village, is a Grade II* listed house built in 1774.

Transport

Swillington does not have a railway station, unlike the nearby town of Garforth, but is served by bus operators. The major roads through the village are Wakefield Road (the A642), Swillington Lane and Astley Lane.

Under proposals released on 28 January 2013, Phase 2 of the High Speed 2 rail link would be built close to the western side of the village, running adjacent to the M1 motorway. The HS2 track would cross the existing railway line close to Thorpe Park to the north of the village and also cross Selby road via embankment and bridge. Further south a viaduct would be placed across Wakefield Road. This line would carry the spur away from Leeds, towards the East Coast Main Line at Church Fenton.

Education

The local school, Swillington Primary School has about 270 pupils. Swillington does not have its own secondary school, consequently pupils typically attend Garforth Academy or Brigshaw High School.

YEDL, the local electricity distribution company, has its overhead line school at Swillington where it trains its apprenticed and qualified linesmen in techniques required to work on the electricity network throughout its licence area.

Sport and recreation

The village has four local football teams, a bowls team, snooker teams and a rugby league team. They use recreational grounds surviving from the mining days. There is also a shooting and country sports supply business in town, and a number of horseriding stables. Being on the Leeds Country Way, the area surrounding Swillington, including the River Aire, the Calder Canal and the woods of Temple Newsam house are used for cycling.

Location

Nearby villages and towns include Austhorpe, Garforth, Kippax, Castleford, Great Preston, Little Preston, Allerton Bywater, Oulton, Woodlesford, Rothwell, Colton, Swillington common and Methley.

Notable people

  • John Chamber (1546–1604), clergyman and author on astronomy, was baptised at Swillington.
  • John Dobson, Anglican priest and Dean of Ripon
  • Andrew White (guitarist of the Kaiser Chiefs).
  • References

    Swillington Wikipedia