Swepstone

Coordinates: 52°41′36″N 1°27′18″W / 52.693292°N 1.45498°W / 52.693292; -1.45498

Swepstone
Swepstone  Swepstone shown within Leicestershire
Population	575 [1]
OS grid reference	SK 37083 10771
- London	172 km
District	North West Leicestershire
Shire county	Leicestershire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	COALVILLE
Postcode district	LE67
Dialling code	01530
Police	Leicestershire
Fire	Leicestershire
Ambulance	East Midlands
EU Parliament	East Midlands
List of places: UK • England • Leicestershire

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 parish includes the villages of Swepstone and Newton Burgoland.

The earliest documentation of the village is found in the Domesday Book where it appears as Scopestone.^[2] Later documentary appearances are given as Swepeston from around 1130 to 1471, and Swepston from 1234.^[3] 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 while their beasts were tethered outside.^[4]

The church regularly has fun events and every Christmas they put a star on the church that can be seen for miles around. During spring there are numerous daffodils along the roadside. It is not too far from Ashby and Coalville so although it is secluded, it isn't quite the middle of nowhere. Swepstone's only public house is The Odd House, which serves food, and the village Hall sometimes holds coffee mornings.

References

External links

Media related to Swepstone at Wikimedia Commons