SwintonDuring the Middle Ages, Swinton (whose name is said to derive, in its early form of Swynton, from pig-rearing) belonged to Whalley Abbey.
At the suppression of the abbey, lands at Swinton were granted to Thurston Tyldesley of Wardley Hall - although documents still exist to record that certain areas of Swinton belonged to the Knights Hospitallers. Swinton's history remained uneventful until 1817 when some of its weavers joined in the 'Blanketeer' demonstration, marching to London to put their grievances to the Prince Regent.
Trouble also flared in 1842 when certain Swinton people took part in Chartist agitations and tried to destroy a local colliery. Sunday schools and libraries were established in Swinton at quite an early period, and the very fine local Industrial School was visited by, and received high praise from, Charles Dickens. It had been opened in 1843 and survived until the 1920s. Its site was used for the present impressive Town Hall, completed in 1938.