Swaton

Swaton is a village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated on the B1394 road, less than 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north from the A52 road, and 6 miles (9.7 km) south-east of Sleaford. Swaton Fen lies to the east. The Eau river rises to the west and runs through the village until it joins the Forty Foot Drain.

Swaton

Swaton vicarage
Swaton
Location within Lincolnshire
Population184 (2001)
OS grid referenceTF132374
• London100 mi (160 km) S
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSleaford
Postcode districtNG34
PoliceLincolnshire
FireLincolnshire
AmbulanceEast Midlands
UK Parliament

Before the draining of the Fens the Eau river was navigable and a large inland port existed close to the current bridge. The Roman Car Dyke runs to the east of the village. Roman brick pits remain.

Swaton Fen

The name comes from "Suavetone" or "Swaffa’s Farmstead".

Nichola de la Haye, a lady who served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire for King John, died in Swaton on 20 November 1230.[1]

In 1240 William II Longespée and his wife Idonea, Nichola's granddaughter, applied for and were granted a royal charter to run a Friday market in the village. This grant was unsuccessfully challenged by residents of Folkingham and Sleaford who feared it would damage their own Saturday and Monday markets.

Swaton Vintage Day is held each June. The village also hosts the annual World Egg Throwing competition. Egg throwing in this village started circa 1322 when the new Abbot of Swaton, controlling all poultry in the village, used them to provide eggs as alms to those that attended church. When the Eau was in flood these were hurled over the swollen river to waiting peasants.

References
  1. "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/47223. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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