Swillington

Civil Parish in Yorkshire Leeds

England

Swillington

Fields seen from Townclose Hills Credit: Alex Hamlin

Swillington is a civil parish located in the metropolitan borough of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Situated approximately 7 miles southeast of the city center, it is a small village with a population of around 3,000 residents. The area is known for its picturesque countryside, encompassing open fields, woodlands, and the River Aire, which flows through the parish.

Swillington has a rich history, dating back to the Domesday Book in 1086, where it was first mentioned as "Suillintone." The parish has witnessed various periods of development and change over the centuries, with agriculture playing a significant role in its economy. Today, farming remains a part of the local industry, along with some light industry and service-based businesses.

The village itself is characterized by its charming stone buildings, including a historic church, St. Mary's, which dates back to the 12th century. The church stands as a prominent landmark and a testament to the area's heritage. Swillington also has a primary school, community center, and a few local shops and amenities, providing essential services for its residents.

The parish offers a range of recreational activities, with several nature reserves and walking trails nearby, making it an attractive destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The nearby Swillington Ings Nature Reserve is particularly popular, offering a habitat for various wildlife species and a tranquil environment for visitors to enjoy.

Overall, Swillington is a peaceful and idyllic village in Yorkshire, offering a close-knit community, beautiful countryside, and a rich historical background that continues to be cherished by its residents.

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Swillington Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.770564/-1.41896 or Grid Reference SE3830. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Fields seen from Townclose Hills

Alex Hamlin

The valley of Kippax Beck

Seen from the Lines Way, a former railway line.

Christine Johnstone

The northern edge of the wood on Preston Hill

Looking west from the Lines Way near Townclose Hills. The Lines Way is a permissive bridleway on the route of the former Garforth - Allerton Bywater railway line.

Christine Johnstone

Wheatfields in the valley of Kippax Beck

Looking west from the Lines Way, a permissive bridleway on the route of the former Garforth - Allerton Bywater railway line.

Christine Johnstone

Trees along Kippax Beck

With Brecks Farm in the distance.

Christine Johnstone

Kippax Beck near Brecks Wood

Ian S

Brecks Wood

Small stretch of woodland in the shallow valley formed by Kippax Beck

Chris Heaton

View towards Preston Hill

The small hill is covered in woodland - seen from the Lines Way over a field of rape.

Chris Heaton

A soggy hilltop path

One of several alternative paths that lead west from the RSPB visitor centre at St Aidan's. My out of date Leeds map doesn't show any of them, and this one isn't even shown on current maps. However, it is a walked route, but not one that can be recommended at the end of a soggy November unless wearing waders. The view ahead is towards high rise buildings in Leeds.

Gordon Hatton

Path junction at edge of RSPB reserve

There are several new rights of way in and around the St Aidan's nature reserve, none of which are shown on my 2010 edition OS map, which makes life confusing in this area. The view is roughly north towards an industrial estate on the edge of Swillington.

Gordon Hatton

Is this the path?

At the top of this field a metal hand gate gives access and there's a walked line down the field, but on reaching the bottom there's no stile, only a locked metal farm gate which has to be climbed over. My 2010 Leeds area OS map doesn't show any paths here, but the up to date version on Geograph shows the path on the other side of the hedge. So why is there a pedestrian gate into this field? There will be thick glutinous mud ahead, adding to the fun. This hill appears to be largely artificial and presumably made from the removal of surface material at the nearby opencast mine. Probably the reason for the poor drainage hereabouts.

Gordon Hatton

Leeds Country Way

A wooded section of path near Swillington that is popular with dog walkers.

Gordon Hatton

Swillington Park driveway

This may have been one of the main driveways leading towards Swillington House, but that has long gone, the 18thC mansion being demolished in 1950 due to subsidence caused by mining.

Gordon Hatton

Crossing the Aire

Footbridge adjacent to the A642 road bridge over the River Aire at Swillington. This is a potentially dangerous area for the pedestrian following the Leeds Country Way as the busy A642 must be crossed twice in order to access this bridge, as well as Bullerthorpe Lane which carries a lot of local traffic.

Gordon Hatton

The Aire at Swillington

Looking upstream from the footbridge over the river. This is not quite the sylvan stream that flows along Malhamdale.

Gordon Hatton

Hillside between river and canal

An area of open ground hemmed in by plantations to either side. This low hill looks suspiciously artificial, confirmation being found on old OS maps which show nothing here before the 1932 edition, when an aerial cableway is shown, whilst on the 1948 revision there's indication of a coal tip here. There's no public footpath across here, but it is used as open access with a hand gate at the SE end.

Gordon Hatton

Hilltop view

A century ago there would have been no view here, and no hilltop either. This is looking north west from the top of the artificial hill that is on a peninsula of land between the River Aire and the canal. The OS map of 1932 shows an aerial cableway here, which presumably dumped mine waste. Was this from the Water Haigh Colliery, which is shown on the same map on the far side of the Aire & Calder Navigation? It seems likely.

Gordon Hatton