William Sworder of Stapleford Tawney Hall was not a young man when I first made his acquaintance, but he was what he always continued to be while he could throw his leg across a horse – a customer across country. With fine seat, iron nerve and great experience, whatever horse he rode he was always seen in the can. No truer friend to hunting ever lived. No more courteous gentleman have I ever met in the hunting field or elsewhere. He was a fine type of yeoman farmer, a type, alas, which too surely is passing away, but which while a Sworder lives at Tawney Hall will never die out. Such men have formed the pride of the country side, and he has left behind him several sons worthy successors of a good father, as long as being a straight, God-fearing citizen counts for anything.
Taken from Leaves from a Hunting Diary, by H. Beauchamp Yerburgh [1900]
In the 1871 Census, William is living at Great Tawney Hall. He is described as a farmer, farming 600 acres, and employing 19 men and 4 boys. He is married to Esther and they have 2 daughters, Emma and Fanny and 3 sons, Charles, Hugh and Harry. He also employs a cook and a housemaid.
In the 1881 Census, Hugh (aged 27years) is described as head of the household, although both his sisters, Emma and Fanny are still residing with him. Hugh is described as a farmer’s son. He employs two servants. William who by this time was a widow was living with his brother Charles (also a farmer) in Hertfordshire.
William Sworder (pictured below) died on the 26th July 1889, aged 77 years.
By the time of the 1891 Census, the head of the household is Harry Sworder, again described as a farmer. He is married to Eleanor and they have two sons, Norman aged 4 years and Gerald age 3 years, and a daughter aged 1 year. A Governess is employed together with a general servant, Emily Hoy, aged 11 years.
Norman and another brother Malcolm, both served in the Great War and made the ultimate sacrifice. Norman was killed in 1918 whilst serving with the Royal Air Force and Malcolm was also killed in 1918 whilst serving with the Royal Flying Corp. Both their names appear on the war memorial at St Mary’s, Stapleford Tawney.
