|
Swadlincote's name is derived from the Old English "Swartlings Cottas", Swartling being a man's name and cottas meaning cottages. Past forms of the name include Sivardingescote and Swartlincote. Swadlincote residents often shorten its name to "Swad".
The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded Swadlincote as a small manor. It was part of the parish of Gresley (latterly Church Gresley) until the 19th century.
The first record of mineral extraction in the area is from the end of the 13th century, but the area remained rural until the industrialisation in the 18th century. The presence of coal and clay in the area led to urbanisation as colleries, brickworks and potteries came to dominate Swadlincote. These industries continued to expand until the Second World War. In Alexandra Road one traditional bottle-shaped kiln survives. The fireclay strata in the coal measures has a high alumina content.
Swadlincote is one of only six places in Great Britain with clay deposits of such quality. The high alumina content makes it particularly suitable for salt glazing. The properties of the clay mean that it is easily formed into pipes that are resistant to sewage. The Public Health Act 1875 created a huge demand for locally produced pipes.
Emmanuel Church of England parish church is a Gothic Revival building consecrated in 1846. It was designed by H. I. Stevens and completed in 1848. Swadlincote had a Wesleyan chapel by 1848. Today the town has also the Roman Catholic church of Saints Peter and Paul.
The town's first local government was formed in 1871 with the creation of Swadlincote District local board of health. the board's district consisted of three civil parishes: Church Gresley, Stanton and Newhall and Swadlincote. Under the terms of the Local Government Act 1894, this became Swadlincote and District Urban District, renamed Swadlincote Urban District in 1951. In 1974 the urban district was merged with Repton Rural District and part of South East Derbyshire Rural District to form the present South Derbyshire District.
The urban district council was granted a coat of arms in 1947. The design reflected the fact that Swadlincote was formed out of part of the ancient parish of Church Gresley. Around the edge of the shield was a bordure or border in a "vairy" pattern of red and ermine, from the arms of the Gresley family, who took their name from the parish. The dedication of Grespel parish church to Saint George and Saint Mary was represented by their symbols: a cross and fleur de lys respectively. The quartered ermine and red field of the shield was taken from the arms of the Stanhope family, Earls of Harrington. The Tudor roses were taken from the arms of Derbyshire County Council. Above the arms was a crest depicting a human arm holding a billet or: a yellow brick for the local brick making industry. The arm rose from flames, indicative of mining of fireclay and coal. The Latin motto adopted: E Terra Divitiae ("From the earth, riches") also referred to the mineral industries of Swadlincote. The current arms of the South Derbyshire District Council which bear the motto "The Earth Our Wealth" also reflect this heritage and are borne on local street-name signs.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the town's Rink venue (now demolished and the site of industrial units) hosted to major British and American pop stars and Gene Vincent appeared in the town on 7 September 1963. Ringo Starr appeared in 1962 while he was the drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
|
