Swalwell
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Swalwell is a village in
Gateshead Gateshead () is a large town in northern England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle to which it is joined by seven bridges. The town contains the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Sage ...
,
Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear () is a metropolitan county in North East England, situated around the mouths of the rivers Tyne and Wear. It was created in 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972, along with five metropolitan boroughs of Gateshead, Newcastl ...
, England, in the United Kingdom.


History

On 27 August 1640, an encampment of soldiers was gathered in the fields north of Whickham church on the slope down to Swalwell. This was part of the Royalist army of King Charles I preparing to fight the Scots. Information was soon received that the Scots led by General Leslie were crossing the river at Newburn to attack the English at Stella, after which the Whickham contingent would be threatened, and so orders were given to burn the camp at Whickham rather than let it fall into enemy hands. Many of the villagers of Whickham joined in the retreat which followed. The fire at the camp ignited a seam of coal which apparently burned for several years in various places including the Coaly Well. On 7 September 1648 a burial took place at Whickham churchyard of a soldier in Cromwell's army which was then camped north of the church. Cromwell is supposed to have stayed in Whickham for two days before marching to Scotland down Clockburn Lane on 25 July 1650 on his way to the battle of Dunbar, crossing the Tyne at Newburn and using the ancient route of the cattle drovers. In 1870–72 Swalwell had a population of 1,479. There were 190 houses, chapels of United Presbyterians, Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists, and extensive ironworks.


Sights (points of interest)

*Holy Trinity Church *Swalwell Bridge


Notable people

The following notable people were either born in Swalwell or lived there for a significant period: * Jimmy Armstrong – professional footballer *
Harry Clasper Harry Clasper (5 July 1812 – 12 July 1870) was a professional rower and boat builder from Tyneside in England. He was an innovative boat designer who pioneered the development of the racing shell and the use of outriggers. He is said to have ...
– professional rower *
Margaret Dryburgh Margaret Dryburgh (24 February 1890 – 21 April 1945) was an English teacher and missionary. Born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, Sunderland, England, she later became a missionary in Singapore, where she was captured in the Second World War. Th ...
– a school teacher and missionary who was interned by the Japanese in World War II *
Charlton Nesbit Charlton Nesbit (1775 – 11 November 1838) was a British wood-engraver. Life Nesbit was born in Swalwell in County Durham, the son of a keelman. Nesbit became the wood-engraver Thomas Bewick's apprentice in Newcastle upon Tyne around 178 ...
– wood-engraver *
William Shield William Shield (5 March 1748 – 25 January 1829) was an English composer, violinist and viola, violist. His music earned the respect of Haydn and Beethoven. Life and musical career Shield was born in Swalwell near Gateshead, County Durham, th ...
– Master of the King's Music


References


External links


Swalwell Online

Swalwell
Populated places in Tyne and Wear Gateshead {{TyneandWear-geo-stub