Swinbrook & Widford Parish Council

Swinbrook is a small village on the River Windrush, about 2 miles east of Burford. Untouched for generations, it is the quintessential English village with its stone walls, pretty church, village hall, cricket pitch with wooden pavilion, and an old stone pub next to the old stone bridge across the River Windrush.

The church has some fascinating memorials to the Fettiplace family, who owned the manor during the 17C. In the 20th century Swinbrook became closely associated with the “Mitford sisters”— the six daughters of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale. The sisters became celebrated, and at times scandalous, figures who were caricatured by The Times journalist, Ben Macintyre, as “Diana the Fascist, Jessica the Communist, Unity the Hitler-lover; Nancy the Novelist; Deborah the Duchess and Pamela the unobtrusive poultry connoisseur”. The graves of four of the sisters can be found in the churchyard.

Contact us: election.staff@westoxon.gov.uk