The name Swinton derives from the
Old English swīntūn meaning '
pig farm'. The town was once a centre for the manufacture of
pottery of international importance, and deep
coal mining,
glassmaking, canal barge-building and
engineering. It is known for the
Rockingham Pottery, a world-renowned manufacturer of porcelain. Although the factory closed in 1842, its name defines a style of
rococo porcelain. There were several other potteries in the area during the 19th century. One of the original kilns, the
Rockingham, or Waterloo, Kiln, a small part of the factory, a gatehouse (both now private residences) and the pottery flint millpond remain today in Pottery Ponds, a small park off Blackamoor Road near the
Woodman public house. Swinton was also the site of the important but lesser known
Don Pottery. The village lies between the Roman Ridge (extending approximately from Wincobank to the north east of Sheffield, to Mexborough) and the south west Roman road from Doncaster (the Roman fort and minor settlement of Danum). A coin hoard dating to the early 3rd century was excavated during the construction of a house cellar in the village in 1853. In June 2014, Andrew Allen uncovered a number of pottery sherds whilst gardening at home. Preliminary observations found that it comprised approximately 90 pottery sherds, including high status
Samian ware, traditional cooking wares and rusticated pottery, as well as possible metal and glass working waste products. In October 2014, South Yorkshire's first crowd-funded archaeological project commenced with an archaeological excavation in the area of the pottery finds. It found evidence of a Roman ditch and a possible Roman field system and numerous pieces of pottery from the late 1st to mid 3rd centuries. Further archaeological excavation was undertaken in spring 2015 and a comprehensive geophysical survey of Swinton Fitzwilliam school playing fields. Further work is planned with Elmet Archaeology and the local community. == Topography ==