About the town » Swillington, City and Borough of Leeds, England, Great Britain

Swillington is a small village and civil parish near Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. It is located east of the River Aire and surrounded by streams including Fleakingley Beck. As of 2001, Swillington had a population of about 3,530. Swillington used to be a coal mining village until the pit closed, which caused major upsets in the community. Where Primrose Hill pit once stood is now a housing estate with streets taken from the collieries name (Primrose Hill Drive, Primrose Hill Green etc.). Most residents commute to the nearby cities of Leeds and Wakefield or the towns of Rothwell and Castleford to work. Swillington has had quite a strong community spirit in the past which probably dates back to the mining days. However, changing demographics are perceived by some to be affecting its community cohesion. The village school, the sporting clubs and the drinking establishments are now the vital links keeping the community together. The village facilities include news agents, Tesco Express, St. Mary's Church, a Post Office, one pub called "The Swillington", a doctors surgery, two Social Clubs, (The Miners Welfare and the Labour Club), a fish and chip shop, a Horse riding centre, a garden centre, a gun shop, a cafe (baugette me not), sun tanning rooms,a garage, a community centre and a parade of shops. The major roads through the village are Wakefield Road, Swillington Lane and Astley Lane. There are also recreational grounds surviving from the mining days which are used by local people to play sports such as Football, Cricket, Rugby League and Lawn Bowls. Unfortunately the grandstand of the football pitch has not been maintained in recent times and is currently seriously dilapidated. "The Swillington" as it is called is not legally a pub because the historical land owners in the area decreed that no pub could ever be built on their lands after they had sold them. Consequently "The Swillington" is a hotel, although its main function is as a licensed bar. Swillington Hall, the seat of the Lowthers was demolished in 1952. Leventhorpe Vineyard is near the village, and has been recommended by Rick Stein. It was until recently the most northerly commercial vineyard in Britain. (There is now one further north, near Malton. ) It was established in 1986 by George Bowden. Another well recommended local business is Swillington Organic Farm, a fully Soil Association certified farm on the former Lowther estate which has been frequented by celebrity chefs and has produce that was voted the 'Best Meat In Yorkshire' in 2007. The local school, Swillington Primary School is a medium sized school with around 270 pupils. Swillington does not have its own secondary school so pupils normally go to . ]]and pupils get to the school by using a school aervice operaated by M Travel YEDL, the local electricity distribution company, has its overhead line school at Swillington where it trains its apprentice linesmen and qualified linesmen in the correct techniques required to work on the electricity network throughout its license area. There are several walks which can be taken in the area including the Leeds Country Way which passes through the village. Nearby villages and towns include Austhorpe, Garforth, Kippax, Castleford, Great Preston, Little Preston, Allerton Bywater, Oulton, Woodlesford, Rothwell, Colton, Swillington common and Methley. Swillington does not have a railway station unlike the nearby town of Garforth so most people travel by bus; services are operated by mainly Arriva Yorkshire and one service operated by First Leeds which operate to Leeds city centre, Wakefield city centre, Rothwell, Kipax, Garforth, Seacroft, Cross gates, Colton, Whiterose centre, Middleton, Pudsey, Horseforth, Castleford, Woodlesford,Wetherby, Aberford, Barwick in Elmet, Ledston, Ledston Luck, Ledsham, Micklefield, Stourton, Methlety, Mickletown, Allerton Bywater, Great Preston, Little Preston, Austhorpe, Swillington Common.