Swynnerton is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. It lies in the Borough of Stafford, and at the 2001 census had a population of 4,233, increasing to 4,453 at the 2011 Census. Swynnerton is listed in the Domesday Book identifying the lord in 1066 as Brothir and in 1086, Edelo, who was in service to Robert de Stafford, the tenant-in-chief. The record shows the settlement consisted of ten villagers' households, and five smallholders. Property consisted of eight ploughlands suitable for one lord's plough teams, and six men's plough teams. Other resources are listed as ten acres of meadow, and one league of woodland. The owner's value was estimated at £2. St Mary's Church dates back to at least the 13th century, and as far back as the 11th century. Swynnerton received its charter from Edward I in 1306. During the 14th century a market used to be held every Wednesday and an annual fair was held on 15 August each year. A grand manor house used to exist until its destruction in the English Civil War by Cromwell's men, its replacement being Swynnerton Hall, built in 1725 by Francis Smith of Warwick, which still dominates the Swynnerton skyline today. The Roman Catholic church of Our Lady adjoins the hall, which was built in 1868 by Gilbert Blount. Most of the houses in the village are post World War II. Nearby Cold Meece houses a British Army training area that used to be a Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Swynnerton. It is often used by the Air Training Corps and the Army Cadet Force, but is also a regular training area for the British Army.
Notable residents
Thomas Fitzherbert was an English Jesuit. Fitzherbert was born at Swynnerton, his father having died whilst he was an infant, he was, even as a child, the head of an important family and the first heir born at Swynnerton.
Lord Stafford's family presence dates back several centuries.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is believed to have penned his famous poem, The Village Blacksmith, in Swynnerton.
Key moments in history
The one real love story in the life of George IV is that which tells of his marriage with a lady who might well have been the wife of any king. This was Maria Anne Smythe, better known in her second married name as Mrs. Fitzherbert, who met the then-Prince of Wales in 1784. She had been married to Thomas Fitzherbert of Swynnerton until his death in 1781, which left her well provided for. Maria Fitzherbert's face was one which always displayed its best advantages. Her eyes were peculiarly languishing, and, as she had already been twice a widow, and was six years his senior, she had the advantage over a less experienced lover. Likewise, she was a Catholic, and so by an act of Parliament any marriage he made with her would be illegal. Yet because of all these different objections the prince was doubly drawn to her, and was willing to sacrifice even the throne if he could but win her. Maria Fitzherbert died on 27 March 1837. Although the marriage was declared invalid under English civil law, Pope Pius VII declared the marriage legal.
Today
service number 14 calls at the church bus stop five times a day on its way to and from Hanley, Trentham, Barlaston, Stone and Eccleshall and Stafford. The village pub, the Fitzherbert Arms, has three bars, two dining areas and accommodation.
