ðə fˈɜːst ɹˈɪʔn̩ pɹˈuːf ʌv ʃˈædwɛlz ɛɡzˈɪstəns ɪz ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks ɪn wˈɪljəm ðə kˈɑːŋkɚɹɚz dˈoʊmsdeɪ bˈʊk, wˌɛɹ ɪɾ ɪz kˈɔːld skeɪdwˈɛl, ænd ɪz pˈɑːɹt ʌvðə fjˈuːdəl bˈæɹəni ʌv pˈɔntɪfɹˌækt.
The first written proof of Shadwell's existence is in 1086 in William the Conqueror's Domesday Book, where it is called Scadewelle, and is part of the Feudal Barony of Pontefract.