The Four Admirals of Swanbourne. By Ken Harris Despite being an inland village, Swanbourne can boast of having had 4 admirals, all with the surname Fremantle, living in the village, all bar the first having been born here. The first of these admirals was Thomas Francis Fremantle (1765 – 1819), a close friend and colleague […]
The Telford Twins – War babies born to an evacuee mother in 1944 By John and David Telford John and David Telford are identical twins who have had links with Swanbourne for 70 years. The connection began when their mother Olive Telford’s cousin Dennis Henderson (son of Ernie Henderson who lived for many years at […]
Historic Private Houses Interpretation by Clive Rodgers The oldest private house in Swanbourne is likely to be Brook Farm Cottage (see below) which could date back to about 1400. Photographs RIGHT:- Brises farmhouse, lived in by William Deverell, Chief Constable of Cottesloe Hundred (1700). Owned by Newman Williat in 1762 who had a large wedge […]
(1) Interviews, Video clips and Autobiography of Jack Campbell (age 94) JACK CAMPBELL – Long time resident of Swanbourne, interviewed by Frankie Fisher and Clive Rodgers on 12.12.2012, aged 94 and three months before he died. Written transcription by Vanda Bennett. For the full PDF copy of the first interview transcription, click HERE:- Interview 1 Jack Campbell. Photographs of Jack […]
Anglo-Saxon, Norman and Woburn Abbey ownerships and the transfer of power at the Dissolution of the Monasteries. By Clive Rodgers 1066 Harold Godwinson owned part of Swanbourne as one of four manors, but may have held its overlordship. CLICK HERE to link to Anglo-Saxon Swanbourne, AD600-1066 1066 After the conquest, William initially took over the Overlordship of […]
Buxlow Farm Lyn Jones kindly provided the photographs of the Buxlow Farm buildings It seems reasonable to speculate that the name Buxlow was most likely linked to the Anglo-Saxon chieftain Bucca, who also gave his name to Buckingham. Buxlow was awarded to William Deverell at Enclosure, but the Pre-enclosure map of 1762 shows no farm or buildings on […]
Emma Bolton – a Domestic Servant at Swanbourne House By Ken Harris and Linda Rodgers It started with a photograph of an elderly woman sitting in a greenhouse (see below), and an inscription on the back saying simply ‘Miss Bolton, Swanbourne House’. But who was she and what could we find out about her? A […]
The Enclosure Act of 1762 View a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation on Swanbourne Enclosure (by Ken Harris) taken from the presentation evening in Swanbourne Village Hall in November, 2012:- Enclosure Presentation by Ken Harris Enclosures (or Inclosures) were encouraged by 18th Century governments in an attempt to improve agricultural efficiency. The Swanbourne Enclosure Act […]
More Archaeological Finds By Clive Rodgers Finds continue to be made in the Charlton Close/Station Road area of the village. New fragments of pottery and other artifacts being exposed as a result of the long periods of torrential rain in January, 2014. Part of a seax blade? This is derived from the border of my […]
NEWLY REVISED – Historical background – how Swanbourne was established in England. Overview of events summarised by Clive Rodgers The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles inform us of Angles and Saxons being invited to assist in keeping off fierce Pictish tribesmen from Scotland, as the Roman Army had departed to defend Rome. The Angles were from Schleswig on the Danish/German border today, including the […]