 In the Domesday Book, Swarkestone was held by the King (William the conqueror) and by Henry de Ferrers.In the "Battle of Swarkestone Bridge" during the English Civil War (1643) it was defended by the Royalists against the Parliamentarians, but the outnumbered Cavaliers lost the day.In 1745 during the Jacobite rising led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, the advance party of his army reached here to gain control of the crossing of the Trent.