Swine is a picturesque village north east of Hull and just south of Skirlaugh. It sits on Crown Estate, and is a conservation area. Now known best for it's charm and tranquility, it was once an important centre of medieval life, complete with Manor House. The parish church of St Mary's stands on what remains of the nave of a Cistercian priory which stood there from the 12th century up until the dissolution of the monasteries, when it was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1539. Although little is left of the buildings that once stood there, evidence of fishponds, drains and a moat are all still visible.
The Hull and Hornsea trainline ran through Swine between from 1864 until 1964, when it closed, a casualty of the Beeching Report. The route is now part of the Trans Pennine Way, and provides a popular cross country, traffic-free cycling and walking trail between Hull and Hornsea. Swine Station House still stands, and the platforms to each side of the road, where a level crossing once stood, can still be seen through the undergrowth. A picnic table now provides a stopping point for walkers and cyclists to recharge.
Other cottages, all now private residences, also evidence busier times for Swine. The Old School House on the junction of Dancing Lane and Coniston Lane was a school right up until 1968, and Chapel House was a Methodist chapel until 1940.
Theories abound as to the origins of the name of Swine, which appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, but most likely is that it comes from the old English word Swin, meaning creek. Wherever it came from, residents today embrace the name in its most commonly recognised modern use of the word, and a walk around the village will reveal a fine display of ornamental pigs adorning many of the cottages, in a variety of ways, including the sign outside the former post office.
Swine is largely farmland, and Main Street is a no through road, which only serves as access to a few homes and three farms. Visitors are reminded to take care when using the single lane roads, as these are also used by tractors and large farm vehicles which struggle to get through, so take care when walking to listen out for traffic and be ready to find a safe place to stand on the verge while it passes. Drivers are asked to look out for, and definitely not park in, passing points along the route.
Popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders, Swine is also part of the route for the East Riding Stages Rally which passes through once a year in February. The road through the village is closed for the day, but walking to the village from Beningholme, Coniston or down the trail will find you a good spot to watch the cars as they pass through. For more details see: East Riding Stages | Beverley & District Motor Club (bdmc.org.uk).
The Sloth & Scone pop-up café takes place in the summer, originally set up to raise funds for the restoration of the church clock face it has become a popular community event to which everyone is welcome.