Swarkestone Bridge
Grade I listed bridge in Swarkestone, Derbyshire, England
Swarkestone Bridge is a medieval bridge crossing the River Trent between the villages of Swarkestone and Stanton by Bridge, about 6 miles south of Derby. It is currently Grade I Listed and a scheduled monument.
History
The bridge was built in the 13th century to cross the river and the surrounding marshes. The first mention of the bridge was in 1204 (when it was referred to as Ponte de Cordy), but it has been modified, repaired and rebuilt; the majority of the existing bridge dates, from the late 13th and early 14th century. The original bridge is thought to have been made of wood, and was then rebuilt in stone at the end of the 13th century. Three royal grants of tolls for bridge repair were granted between 1324 and 1347.
The bridge and causeway were part of the king's highway between Derby and Coventry. This had been the main route between the two cities since before the Norman Conquest, and there had been a river crossing on the site.
Swarkestone Bridge is, in total, just under a mile long and has 17 arches (six of which have been unaltered since medieval times); it is built primarily of local sandstone. It is the longest stone bridge in England.
The public source identifies “Swarkestone Bridge” as grade I listed bridge in Swarkestone, Derbyshire, England. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Swarkestone, Bridge and Grade.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Swarkestone Bridge”, the useful work is to connect “grade I listed bridge in Swarkestone, Derbyshire, England” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 19, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q13528033. Authority coordinates are 52.853, -1.454. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1204, 1324 and 1347.
Modern boundaries and familiar names can conceal earlier jurisdictions or structures that do not align with the present site. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
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Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
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Three-step research path
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Questions for further research
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This entry incorporates text from “Swarkestone Bridge” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.