Swarkestone has a very old village church, a full cricket pitch, the Crewe and Harpur pub, a canal with locks, moorings and canal side tea-rooms, and the 13th century medieval causeway (also known as the Stanton causeway) which is Grade I listed and is just under one mile long there are 17 arches and it is the longest stone built bridge in England, however only a few of the arches actually span the river, the rest pass over the surrounding marsh land. For many years it was the main Midlands crossing route of the River Trent, and at one time it had its own chapel and toll house, one of only three in Derbyshire

Factoids

• The medieval causeway is the country's longest stone bridge

• Ghosts are said to be seen on stormy nights when the River Trent is swollen

• The present Georgian Swarkestone Bridge was built in 1797 for £3550

• There was a Civil War battle in 1643 between the Royalists and Cromwell's army

• In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie's progress towards London was halted

The Crewe and Harpur Arms, shown above was built around 1750 and is a fine example of a Coaching Inn. The present day stable block shown above right is a fraction of the size which once encircled all of the present day car park.

Not only were the coaching teams stabled here, but also race horses as there was a nearby Racecourse based near Lowes Farm, which is just north of the village.

Below right are a well trodden set of stone steps that remain on the pavement near to the car park, and the graceful Inn is reflected in the Trent below left

Swarkestone Bridge has been the site of two battles. Firstly the Civil War battle in 1643 when the Royalists defending the structure were defeated by the Cromwellian Sir John Gell, and more famously in 1745 it marked the end of Bonnie Prince Charlie's progress towards London, his Highlanders took the bridge and held out against much superior numbers of Government troops before the Prince made the decision to abandon his attempt and to return to Scotland, to eventually meet their fate at Culloden

The gracious 18th century bridge over the river Trent, the rough water you can see below the bridge is caused by the remains of an earlier bridge which was demolished and its foundations left on the river bed.

The Bridge is reputedly haunted, with accounts varying as to whether the ghosts are those of the two sisters, or of the soldiers who died at the crossing.

This medieval causeway shown above was originally built in the early 13th century, on behalf of two beautiful sisters of the Bellamont family, in memory of their fiancés, the sisters were holding a party to celebrate their joint betrothal when the two young men were summoned to attend a meeting of barons on the other side of the Trent. They reached the meeting safely, but while they were there, the river became swollen by a rainstorm. Although it became a flood of rushing water, the men were eager to get back to their beautiful sweethearts and attempted to ford the river on horseback. Their horses swam valiantly against the torrent but their efforts were in vain. Both men were swept away and drowned. The heartbroken Bellamont girls built the bridge over the Trent to prevent such a tragedy occurring again, and in memory of the drowned men. Neither girl ever married. In fact the legend states that they spent so much money on the bridge that they died not only unwed, but also in extreme poverty, eventually being buried in one grave in Prestwold Church in Leicestershire.

At Swarkestone Lock there was a branch that went to Derby, the picture on the left shows what is left, which is around 50 metres, this branch went underneath the bridge that is shown here on the right.

Opposite a barge navigates down the tranquil canal towards the lock and below left the lock is rapidly filling up, below right 2 barges have risen up from the lower level and are ready to continue their journey