Welcome to Swallowcliffe
Winner of the Wessex Water “Best Hamlet in Wiltshire” Award 2020
As an agricultural community, Swallowcliffe has an ancient history and the Saxon Swealawanclif Charter dates from 940 AD. From the 12th century, the church was a prebend of the Dean of Salisbury. For nearly 200 years until the 1920s it was part of the Earls of Pembroke estates.
Over the last 100 years, Swallowcliffe has experienced great social change, leaving few people employed on the land. Nowadays there’s about 87 homes and around 180 residents. Change is inevitable but Swallowcliffe is still a special place for many people.
See our "History" page for more information.
The village has put together this site, which, amongst other things, gives you an outline of activities you will find going on in the village, a directory of local contacts and businesses, which you may find useful and various bits of local information.
Although we are a small community, there is a vibrant social scene. Swallowcliffe has a number of events throughout the year and a number of clubs which meet regularly.
In normal times, social activities are arranged throughout the year, as well as events to celebrate special occasions. Although on hold at the moment, the following is the range of activities we would expect to resume when circumstances allow.
• Weekly sewing club on Mondays in the Village Hall
contact Judy Fitzpatrick on T:01747870752
• Quiz and curry night in the Village Hall, March and October
• Biennial Village Fete
• Annual Village Barbecue
• Annual Harvest meal
• Village Christmas meal
• Candle-lit Carol Service
• Boxing Day or New Year’s Day walk
• Open Gardens afternoon
• The Curry Club arranges quarterly visits to the best local Indian restaurants
contact Barry Fitzpatrick on E:barry@buzzworks.co.uk
For details about these and other upcoming events go to the "What's On" page
St. Peters Church
Swallowcliffe's church, St Peter’s, is an attractive Romanesque church (1842) to which you are most welcome visit or attend a service. Weekly services are held on Sundays advertised on the noticeboard outside the Church and in FOCUS the Parish Magazine. We are always on the lookout for volunteers to join the Parochial Church Council and to help with flower arranging, cleaning and supporting the Church.
For all information about weddings, baptisms and funerals, please contact the Rector - Rev Dr Graham Southgate T:01722714826.
For all other church matters either: contact Rex Stephenson on T:01747870519 & rexstephenson@btinternet.com or Janet Fenton on janet.fenton123@gmail.com for information on church services, and to join the Church email list.
For more information about the church can be found here........
The Royal Oak pub
Swallowcliffe has its own pub, The Royal Oak, is the centre of village life with villagers often meeting up informally on Friday evenings for a chat over a drink (or two). The pub is part owned by TV presenter, James May, which he regularly frequents.
T: 01747870211
W: www.royaloakswallowcliffe.com
Swallowcliffe Village Hall
Swallowcliffe Village Hall is the centre for village activity, it is also available for private hire and/or renting out of tables, chairs, crockery, cutlery and glasses etc.
Contact Caroline Willis T: 01747871343
50:50 Club
The Village Hall "50:50 Club" provides financial support for the Village Hall - to join contact Adrian Clarke on E:adrian.clarke@live.com
Almshouses
Swallowcliffe has two almshouses which provide affordable accommodation in the village.
Contact: E:swallowcliffealmshouses@gmail.com
COMMUNICATIONS
Swallowcliffe has several communications channels including two Facebook pages, a WhatsApp group, an Email List, and publishes a printed newsletter, "The Swallowcliffe", twice per year. The latest can be found here. If you have any interesting articles for publication please send them to E:Swallowcliffe.News@gmail.com.
REPRESENTATION
Parish Council, Wiltshire County Council, Member of Parliament
Once a year an Annual Parish Meeting is held where village organisations and individuals share their activities and gather feedback from residents. Recent topics have included St Peters Church, Royal Oak, Almshouses, and Parish Council. The Parish Council normally organise these meetings but they can be called by residents. Minutes from the most recent meetings can be found here.
LOCAL BUSINESSES/SERVICES
Swallowcliffe has a surprising number of diverse small businesses from art & crafts to car servicing and property maintenance.
Please give them your support whenever possible.
Local services (doctors, dentists, vets, churches, shops, ATMs, trains, buses, etc.)
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
IN THE EVENT OF A WATER FAILURE OR EMERGENCY: RING 0345 600 4 600
(MOBILE IS BEST, AVAILABLE 24/7/365)
IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OR POWER CUT: RING 105
(AVAILABLE 24/7/365)
For preparedness information click here