The ‘haunted’ 700-year-old Swarkestone Bridge in Derbyshire that holds an English record

If you’re something of a history buff then it’s fair to say that you’ll never get bored of living in Derbyshire. 

In fact, the county as a human settlement can be traced back to the end of the last Ice Age. 

The 10,000 years since then have seen Derbyshire soil passed over by many different groups of people, including the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Normans. 

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While many of the buildings, roads or other infrastructure linked to these bygone eras have been lost in time, some still exist. 

A prime example of a centuries-old structure still in use today is the Swarkestone Bridge, carrying vehicles over the River Trent just south of Derby and onto a stone causeway. 

Today the bridge forms part of the A514, connecting Derby with Swadlincote, but following its construction in the 13th century it was one of the key routes in England. 

Around 700 years ago the bridge, built from sandstone blocks, formed part of a highway between Derby and Coventry. 

Up until the 17th century, the Swarkestone Bridge was the only place to cross the River Trent between Burton-on-Trent and Nottingham. 

It was also part of the main Derby to London road until the 18th century. 

In 1745, the bridge was the southernmost point of Bonnie Prince Charlie's advance on London, in his attempt to claim the British throne.

Around 100 years previous, during the English Civil War, the bridge was the location of a battle as Royalists defended it against the Parliamentarians. 

At around 1.2km long, the bridge lays claim to being the longest stone bridge in England. 

Over the years there have been many alleged ghost sightings on the bridge, ranging from Civil War horsemen who drowned in the river below to the troops Bonnie Prince Charles. 

While the bridge is still in use to this day, it’s fair to say that its 13th century designers did not have the foresight to accommodate 21st century traffic. 

Bus drivers using the bridge regularly come to a halt to allow similarly-sized vehicles to pass in the opposite directions. 

Despite these small issues, the fact that the Swarkestone Bridge is still in use more than 700 years after its construction is testament to technology of the era.