The Village centre with Pond, Chapel, Old School, Bowling Green and Playing Fields [ now part of the New Swanland School situated in the former James Reckitt Memorial Hall just off the bottom of this picture.]

Just to the left of the Pond, across the road, is The Cafe [ now an Estate Agents ] and the group of houses behind and to the left were those of our family. Grandparents William & Lucy lived in the detached house set back and William built the pair of semi detached houses in front for his  sons Charles and John William.

In front and opposite by the Bowling Green was the Pumping Station over the deep well. It was so noisy that my parents decided to move and built a new house at Mill Road, just before the war. Letting off the house until my brother John married and went to live there. The Pumping was then by quiet electric motors and this building has since been sold and developed.

In the far top right corner are the Andrew Workshops, founded by Thomas and run by William and then Charles. They owned the land and houses between there and the Pond. A pair of semi detached houses were built onto the main road frontage for May Reaveley, Daughter of Charles and her husband who was the Foreman of the firm.

The large house top left was the Ferens family home and Aunt Lucy Andrew worked for them during the war.

The two rows of old cottages on the main street still remain. In my youth they included the Blacksmiths Forge, a popular venue for us young lads, and the Cobblers.

The Group of buildings opposite the Pond are Mere House and former Farm buildings of the Westerdales. Just before the war these became the HQ for Swanland Scouts and during the War the Home Guard HQ. To the left was Hotham's Farm, since demolished and developed into a Housing Estate with the new Pub 'Swan and Cygnet' facing the Pond

Opposite by the side of the Pond is firstly the Village Institute built by Sir James Reckitt of Swanland Manor. It still operates with its Snooker and Billiard Table. Sir James also provided a Library so it is appropriate that the East Riding Council Library now have a room there. The War Memorial is on the front corner.

Then next is the Independent Chapel of 1693 foundation [ now Christ Church ] where the early members of the Andrew family were Baptised. A first Trustee was Francis Carlill of Elloughton who is connected to the Featherstone Family [ see that family page ]

Sir Harold Reckitt presented the Playing Fields, Tennis Court and Bowling Green and with Sir Philip Reckitt built a new Village Hall named after his son James and father James Reckitt the elder. Swanland School now occupy this which has been twice extended. By brother Sgt Pilot Stanley Andrew has his Battle of Britain Memorial Plaque situated there with the WW2 School War Memorial.

The Old School was founded from the Independent Chapel. Richard Witty was an early master also village Registrar and an picture from that time includes Charlie Andrew. The building dates from 1876 and was the gift of John Todd JP of Swanland Hall. He provided a good deal of work for the Andrew Joiners and Wheelwrights. My father, his brother and sisters, and my 3 older brothers all attended this school.

When I was at Swanland School we had a large garden and we spent a good deal of time working there. Two blocks of Council Houses were later built on most of the garden. We also helped built a garden alongside the Pond.  Finally located behind was a later Scout HQ for a time after the war.

EARLY SWANLAND

As an introduction to early Swanland it is worth exploring the origins of the
village name itself. There has it appears always been two schools of thought on the
matter, and no real evidence has ever been produced to confirm or deny which.
theory is the correct one.

The first theory is that the name Swanland has it's origins in either Sweden or
Denmark. The Danish chieftain Sweyne who successfully invaded the Humber in
1013 A.D. proceeded on to York to defeat the army of Ethelred. It is possible
that he used the high ground on which the village now stands as a vantage point for
his men to keep a lookout as he forged on to York. The name would then become
Sweyne Land (or lund).

It is a possibility that over the years the name Swanland has derived itself from these Danish origins. It would appear from a book by T. Thompson, titled, "Researches into the history of Welton and its neighbourhood", published in 1869, that remainders of the Danish invasion were evident up until the Enclosure Act of 1837. These were in the form of earthworks, thought to be the remains of Danish lookout camps, one situated near the Swanland windmill (or in the 1980's the water tower), the other, further south towards Melton. Obviously these camps confirm the presence of the Danes and the use of the
high ground with its extensive views over the Humber as a place of lookout.

We believe this first theory into the origins of the name Swanland is unfounded
because it is doubtful that Sweyne would bestow his title on the high ground that
this village now stands on, when his sights were set on a much larger target, namely
York.

It should also be stated that Swanland is not mentioned in the Domesday Book,
a very thorough piece of documentation carried out in A.D. 1086.

The second theory concerning the name of our village is a much simpler one, and
certainly appears to have some substance. According to J. G. Pattons book, "A
Country Independent Chapel," and we quote,
"In the place name Swanland, I don't think it is necessary to assume any Danish origin; Swaine or Swine would hardly be likely to become Swan. Swanland surely simply means Swanland, The land of the Swan, and a very likely locality." This theory is backed up with references to other sources, such as "Place names of the East Riding," by J. Nicholson, where it is suggested that Swanland means Swans Grove, from the Danish lund, a grove.
Whether this is accurate we know not.

As stated previously the name of our village Swanland is not mentioned in the
Domesday Book. The first reference to Swanland appears to be in Chronica de
Melsa, (The chronicle of Meaux Abbey.) which in 1210 pronounced the village
as Swannesland. Further early references to the village are as follows;
Kirkby Inquest 1284 Swanlond
Knights Fee 1303 Swanneslund
Nomine Villaram 1315 Swanlund also Swanneslund
The often quoted statement "Swanland has no History", is now seen as a fallacy.
Somewhere there is at least 700 years of history waiting to be discovered.!

[ Swanland - Recollections 0f Village Life by J & CA Wheeler 1984 ]

In 1772 Swanland was included in Hull Shire along with Kirk Ella [ with the Parish Church ] and West Ella. The dwellings shown on the road from Kirk Ella towards Rowley would be the site of the Malt Shovel Inn and York Grounds. Ferriby also had a Church [ shown as Chap. ] and being nearer than Kirk Ella was often used by Swanland people.
 

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