Up until the 17th century, Swarkestone Bridge was the only place to cross the River Trent between Burton-on-Trent and Nottingham. It provided a valuable line of defence and communication and in the Civil War, Royalist Commander Henry Hastings fortified the bridge and garrisoned Swarkestone Hall, which was the home of Sir John Harpur (2nd Baronet), with a regiment of about 700 Royalists.

On the 6th of January 1643, Sir John Harpur unsuccessfully defended the bridge against the parliamentarian Sir John Gell of Hopton Hall. Gell’s forces suffered one wounded soldier, whilst killing 8 royalists and wounding several. The barricades on the bridge were dismantled and part of the bridge was demolished. The loss of the river crossing caused problems for both sides in the ongoing conflict.

Swarkestone Hall was damaged during the Civil War but was repaired afterwards. The Harpurs subsequently moved to Calke Abbey and the Hall appears to have been little used after about 1715 and was pulled down during the first half of the 18th century.

The portrait of Sir John Harpur is displayed at Calke Abbey. The tombs of his father (Sir John Harpur 1st Baronet) who died in 1622 and also his mother are in the Harpur Chapel at St James’. The portrait of Sir John Gell  is at the National Army Museum in London.