SWALWELL, a township in the parish of WHICKHAM,
western division of CHESTER ward, county palatine
of DURHAM, 4 miles (w. by S.) from Gateshead,
containing 1330 inhabitants, the greater number of whom
are employed at the extensive iron-works of Messrs,
Crawley, Millington, and Co., where anchors of the
largest size, chain cables, pumps, and cylinders for
steam-engines, with every other description of cast and
wrought iron articles, are produced. This factory was
founded, about 1690, by Sir Ambrose Crawley, who was
originally a blacksmith: he also benevolently established
schools for instructing the children of his workmen
provided asylums for their widows and orphans, ami
adopted the most laudable regulations for orderly con-,
dxict among them. There are places of worship for
Presbyterians and Wesleyan Methodists. An annual
festival is held, on May 22 d, in the village, which is of
considerable size: a freemasons' lodge is occasionally
held at the Queen's Head Inn. William Shield,
the celebrated musical composer, was a native of this
place.