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| Swinton | |
|---|---|
 Swinton Bridge School | |
  Swinton Location withinSouth Yorkshire | |
| Population | 15,559 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | SK454992 |
| • London | 145 mi (233 km) SSE |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Mexborough |
| Postcode district | S64 |
| Dialling code | 01709 |
| Police | South Yorkshire |
| Fire | South Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
| 53°29′16″N1°18′54″W / 53.4877°N 1.3149°W /53.4877; -1.3149 | |
Swinton is a town in theMetropolitan Borough of Rotherham, inSouth Yorkshire, England on the west bank of theRiver Don. It has a population of 15,559 (2011).[1][2][3] The town is five miles north-northeast of the larger town ofRotherham and south-west ofMexborough. The original junior and infant school building built in 1852 on Church Street (formerly Fitzwilliam School) still exists, and is being converted into residential apartments called Fitzwilliam Lodge.[citation needed]
The name Swinton derives from theOld Englishswīntūn meaning 'pigfarm'.[4]
The town was once a centre for the manufacture ofpottery of international importance, and deepcoal mining,glassmaking, canal barge-building andengineering.
It is known for theRockingham Pottery, a world-renowned manufacturer of porcelain. Although the factory closed in 1842, its name defines a style ofrococo porcelain.[5] There were several other potteries in the area during the 19th century. One of the original kilns, theRockingham, or Waterloo, Kiln, a small part of the factory, a gatehouse (both now private residences) and the pottery flint millpond remain today in Pottery Ponds, a small park off Blackamoor Road near theWoodman public house. Swinton was also the site of the important but lesser knownDon Pottery.
The village lies between the Roman Ridge (extending approximately from Wincobank to the north east of Sheffield, to Mexborough) and the south west Roman road from Doncaster (the Roman fort and minor settlement of Danum). A coin hoard dating to the early 3rd century was excavated during the construction of a house cellar in the village in 1853.[6]
In June 2014, Andrew Allen uncovered a number of pottery sherds whilst gardening at home.[7] Preliminary observations found that it comprised approximately 90 pottery sherds, including high statusSamian ware, traditional cooking wares and rusticated pottery, as well as possible metal and glass working waste products.
In October 2014, South Yorkshire's first crowd-funded archaeological project[1] commenced with an archaeological excavation in the area of the pottery finds. It found evidence of a Roman ditch and a possible Roman field system and numerous pieces of pottery from the late 1st to mid 3rd centuries. Further archaeological excavation was undertaken in spring 2015 and a comprehensive geophysical survey of Swinton Fitzwilliam school playing fields. Further work is planned with Elmet Archaeology and the local community.
The town is situated on a hillside. The higher areas generally contain older dwellings, and the lower, newer build properties. The lowest part of the town contains two main rail lines, the River Don, theSheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation canal and the derelictDearne and Dove Canal.
Following the decline of traditional industries and after the1980s miners' strike, employment is provided predominantly by service andlight industry in theManvers area. Surviving in the area of railway lines and canals is a boat yard with a limited barge repair and transport business, and timber milling and woodworking facilities.
The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation canal, once a major transport route betweenSheffield andGoole, underwent substantial modernisation in the mid-1980s and is capable of accommodating large vessels as far asRotherham, and pleasure craft through to Sheffield. Limited bulk freight has returned to the canal with use of the modern Swinton Lock.
The town was without arailway station between January 1968, when theold station was closed as part of theBeeching cuts, and 1991, when anew station was opened after the restoration of the double track "Swinton Curve" (also known as the "Foundry Curve"), enabling trains to travel from Sheffield toDoncaster. Increased passenger usage led to the provision of a portable building staffed for morning peak times only. It was replaced by a brick building housing a ticket office and waiting room. Some local bus services connect with trains at this facility.
Swinton's secondary school, with sixth form college, isSwinton Academy. It teaches pupils from age 11 to 18. The school was scheduled to be rebuilt on the current site but the scrapping of the rebuilding schools programme by thecoalition government of the time meant that the school will not have a new building.
There are also several primary schools and nurseries, including Swinton Fitzwilliam Primary, Swinton Queen Primary School and Brookfield Primary School. Swinton Queen Primary School was rebuilt and opened in March 2011 with the old school buildings being demolished.
On the outskirts of Swinton areDearne Valley College and the emptyHumphry Davy House which was used for nursing studies bySheffield University.
Swinton has 14public houses commonly called "The Swinton Mile", which range from typical Yorkshire pubs serving food, modern bars, and aworking men's club.
Industrial premises on Swinton's boundary withKilnhurst were occupied by CrodaHydrocarbons, who took over the works from Midland and Yorkshire Tar Distillers. The site is controversial owing to pollution during the plant operations.[citation needed] Despite this planning permission was granted to build domestic dwellings. A Validation Certificate has been issued and work byGleeson Homes started.[8]
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