Swineshead

Much of the parishes’ history is bound up with the Cisterian Abbey founded in the 12th Century. Although the chancel of the parish church was rebuilt in 1847, the rest of the churches of the Decorated period. The handsome tower is capped by a lantern and short spire which are local landmarks. Until the seventeenth century Swineshead was a market town, however, it still retains a fourteenth-century cross base in the centre.

The main village is now by-passed and the scattering of local shops, public houses and a village tearoom displaying artefacts of the area, are no longer hassled by the heavy traffic which once ran through the centre of this charming fenland village. Swineshead Abbey dating to around 1607 was built from some of the remains of the Cistercian Abbey was built for Sir John Lockton.

The Vicarage which is part 18th Century and part 19th Century has some unusual sculptured keystones.

The village’s name has nothing to do with pigs, but with the river Swin, which disappeared long ago due to modern drainage.