DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Monday, 05 October, 2026.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1826-

Swan Inn

Closed Feb 2026

Ashford Road

Little Chart

01233 840011

http://www.swanlittlechartashford.co.uk/index

https://whatpub.com/swan-inn

Above photo, 1893, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, 1910, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above postcard, circa 1913, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Although the "Swan" appears in some post-WW2 photographs as a Fremlin's house, it's not clear how the pub ended up "Under the Elephant." The "Swan" doesn't appear in any of the lists of pubs owned by those breweries acquired by Fremlin's, nor was it tied to Alfred Leney's Phoenix Brewery, Dover, with which Fremlin's merged in 1926. The "Swan" has similar windows to the houses and pubs owned by the Dering Estate, Pluckley, so it may possibly have operated as an estate-owned free house, which was something of a rarity in the early 20th century. In 1928, the estate (then owned by the Surrenden family) was broken up and the "Swan" may have been placed on the market then, as part of the subsequent dispersal and asset sale. Perhaps this is when Fremlin's acquired the pub? Further research and more photographs will help clear this question up.

Above postcard, 1924, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, 1929, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, 1930, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, circa 1951, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Either side of the right-hand door is an inward-looking, glass-on-slate elephant sign, indicating that the Swan was a Fremlin's tied house. When and via what route, the Swan went "under the Elephant" is not yet known.

I've added a photo of a pair of Fremlin's door elephants.

Above postcard, postmarked 1956.

Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent by Mark Jennings.

Photo 15 September 2012, from http://www.flickr.com by Jelltex.

Above photo, March 2012, kindly taken and sent by Doogie Moon.

Photo 15 September 2012, from http://www.flickr.com by Jelltex.

Above sign, March 2012. Kindly taken and sent by Doogie Moon.

Above showing a "Welcome Home Supper" put on by the licensees of the "Swan" for those returning from WW2.

Above showing the inside of the menu signed by those attending. Kingly sent by Mark Hills whose grand-father was invited.

There is also a pub called the "Swan" at Great Chart.

From the Kent Herald, 2 November 1826.

DEATH.

Oct. 28, at Little Chart, Mrs. Keeler, landlady of the "Swan," at an advanced age.

From the Kentish Gazette, 20 October, 1863.

LITTLE CHART.

Yesterday Mr. Deputy Coroner Callaway and a respectable jury held an inquest, at the house of Mr. John Standen, the "Swan Inn," Little Chart, on the body of James Ashby, son of Robert Ashby, carpenter. The little fellow was drowned on Saturday morning under circumstances deposed to in the evidence.

Thomas Pile, aged 9 years, deposed:- On Saturday morning I was with him beside Mr. Langley's paper mills, Little Chart. He was fishing standing on the bank. I was standing with him about 2 or 3 minutes. I then went away towards home. As I was waling away I heard the water splash and looked round. I could see nothing of the deceased then. I went home directly. I did not tell any one at home.

By the Jury:- We were playmates and friendly. I did not attempt to take from him the stick he was fishing with. I saw him go behind some faggots, but do not know for what purpose. I stayed at home about half and hour and then went out. I told my mother the second time I went home I thought Ashbee had fallen in. I did not tell my mother where I thought he fell in.

William Hodges Ashbee, of Little Chart, paper maker deposed:- The deceased is my nephew. He is 6 years of age. On Saturday morning about half-past 11 I spoke to the deceased. He was then by the flood gates of Mr. Langley's paper mill. The last witness was with him. They were standing on the bank of the river. The deceased was fishing with a short stick and line, and was about two feet from the edge. I went away for about five minutes, and on my return there was no one at the spot where I saw the children previously. The water wheel was still, and I saw no movement in the water. His father came to me about 20 minutes after, and enquired for his son. I told him the last time I saw of him was with the last witness. His father then left. Afterwards I went across the bridges over the river, and saw a hat drawn against a grating at the entrance of the pond. I knew the hat, and immediately called for assistance, when the body was drawn out of the water. I was present and saw the body drawn from the water. There were men in the mill, and people in houses close to the spot. It is a public footway passing where deceased fell in, but there is no fencing on the bank.

The Deputy Coroner having summed up, the jury, of whom Mr. Frederick was foreman, returned a verdict of "Accidentally drowned."

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 26 November 1881.

ASHFORD. PETTY SESSIONS.

William Collier, landlord of the "Swan Inn," Little Chart was summoned at the instance of Mr. Morgan, inspector of weights and measures, for having in his possession, for use, three pint measures which were not stamped. The measures were correct as to capacity, but the question was whether the defendant could be convicted, as it was not shown that the pots were used for measuring the beer, but only for carrying to customers. After a protracted deliberation the magistrates decided by a majority to dismiss the case.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Sam Williams, 4 July 2020.

Car collides with The Swan Inn, in Little Chart, Ashford, leaving hole in side of building.

Pub owners have been left 'devastated' after a 4x4 ploughed through the side of the historic building, just as it was preparing to reopen.

The smash happened at 2am this morning at The Swan Inn, in Swan Lane, Little Chart, Ashford.

The scene at The Swan Inn, Little Chart Ashford after a crash left the pub with a hole in the building.

Debris and rubble now lie scattered under the pub and on the side of the road.

Police and fire crews were called to the scene and it is understood the building is now "unsound" with structural engineers are due to visit today and give their assessment.

Three people had to be taken to hospital and one teenager, aged 17, was arrested following the crash on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent and drink driving.

A post from The Swan's Facebook page reads: "So 2am this morning the beautiful Swan was destroyed.

"Angry, devastated doesn’t describe it!

"Can’t go in as structure is now unsound."

The scene at The Swan. Picture: The Swan Facebook page.

The crash happened on the day many pubs and restaurants across the county were due to re-open following months of being closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Owner Ray Perkins told KentOnline he was asleep above the pub when the crash happened.

He is now unsure if the pub can re-open today.

He said: "We were asleep when the car came into the side of the pub. It was 2am. We weren't hurt but with all the dust the smoke alarms were going off. It was a shock.

"We are very upset; the pub has a huge gaping hole in it.

"We're now trying to work out if we can still open. We had 200 people booked to come into the garden.

"We do have a big garden, with marquees set up, so hopefully people can still go there and we can deliver drinks.

"We're waiting for the structural engineers to visit to let us know."

A spokesman for the police said: "Kent Police was called at 2.24am on July 4 to a report of a car colliding with a pub in The Street, Little Chart, Ashford.

"Officers attended along with South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

"Three 17-year-old boys, who were inside the vehicle, were taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries before being discharged.

"One of these teenagers has been arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent and drink driving. He remains in custody at this time."

It is not the first time the 15th Century pub has been hit.

Police and fire crews attended the pub.

In February 2017, a woman was taken to hospital with head injuries after the van hit the pub's wall.

Previous landlord, Brian Davies, was also asleep and the crash happened around the same time - at 2am.

He said back then: “I went downstairs to find the front of a van through the wall of the pub. It was coming down the road far too fast, and it’s the second time this has happened in the last three months.

“It’s quite scary when you are woken up at that time in the morning and half the wall under you is collapsing. The whole building shook, and it was probably about 10 ft away from where I was sleeping to where they came through the wall.”A 20-year-old woman had to be cut free from the van and she had suffered head and leg injuries.

In February 2017 a similar crash happened. Then landlord, Brian Davies, inspects the damage.

Mr Davies had run The Swan for a year before this smash happened and said a previous accident in November 2016 was predicted to cost £100,000 to repair. This work was underway when the February smash happened.

Mr Davies added: “It’s really about time that something was done about traffic calming in the village. We had a 30mph speed limit, we need bollards or something to stop cars hitting the pub.”

>From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Louis Walker, 4 February 2026.

The Swan Inn in Little Chart, near Ashford, shuts amid ‘impossible’ business pressures.

The team behind a beloved village pub have called last orders for the final time after rising costs made it “impossible” to continue.

The Swan Inn in Little Chart, near Ashford, which dates back to the 16th century, closed with immediate effect on Tuesday.

The Swan Inn in Little Chart, near Ashford, dates back to the 16th century, but closed on Tuesday.

The landlords, Lorna and Andy Sage, took over the pub in May 2024.

But they say ongoing business pressures have forced them into the “difficult decision” to close the site, which is owned by Stonegate Group.

Company bosses say they will now be “looking for the right publican to take on the pub”, but the loss of the husband-and-wife team has sparked sadness among villagers.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Sages said they were making the announcement “with heavy hearts”.

“After a lot of thought, we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to close the pub,” they said.

“This wasn’t an easy choice. Ongoing business pressures have made it impossible for us to continue, and while it breaks our hearts, it’s the reality we’re facing.

Customers have shared their sadness following the closure of the site.

“To every single customer who walked through our doors - thank you. Your loyalty, laughter, stories, and support meant the world to us.

“We’ll forever cherish the memories: the live music nights, the bike nights, the packed evenings, and the friendships that were made here.

“This place was more than just a pub - it was a community, and we were lucky to be part of it. Thank you for the fun, the noise, the music, and the memories.”

Speaking to KentOnline, Mrs Sage said she wanted to say “a huge thank you to everyone who’s been in touch”.

“We can’t believe the number of people who have reached out, even from as far as America, to say their goodbyes,” she said.

“We’ve also heard from people who held their relatives’ wakes at the pub.

“It might not be the most positive, but it’s something we put a lot of passion into, and I think it became quite renowned for - it obviously meant a lot to so many.”

KentOnline’s Secret Drinker visited the Grade II-listed inn last year, and described the site as “an absolute gem of a place”.

“Exposed brickwork, beautiful floorboard and packed full of fascinating features and historic items,” he said.

“The incredibly local and iconic Dering windows are the icing on the cake.

“The Swan Inn describes itself as a ‘country-style pub’, but this doesn’t really do it justice as it has not just embraced the incredible history of this wonderful 16th-century hostelry but has also mastered the successful transformation required to make it completely user-friendly 500 years down the line.

“The grass area runs directly down to a burbling stream, and I could definitely picture myself sitting here on a summer evening.”

In January 2021, a car smashed into the side of the pub for the second time in six months, destroying the wall at the front of the site.

The front of the pub was destroyed in July 2020 - and again just six months later. Picture: Barry Goodwin.

Inside the pub following the incident in July 2020. Picture: Barry Goodwin.

This week, punters have shared their sadness on social media following the closure.

Paul Crook said: “When all the pubs are closed, people will realise what a big mistake it was.”

Susan McCleave said: “You couldn’t have done more for your customers. Thank you for the warm welcome you gave, the fun, laughter and entertainment.

“Thanks to all of your staff and good luck to them, whatever they go on to do.

“Good luck to both of you for the future, and take care.”

In a statement, Stonegate Group said it is planning to reopen the pub.

“We can confirm that The Swan Inn has recently closed and we will be looking for the right publican to take on the pub, with a focus on retaining it at the heart of the local community,” a spokesman said.

LICENSEE LIST

KEELER Mrs to 28/Oct/1826 dec'd

COOMBER Mary Elizabeth 1851-Feb/1860 (widow age 57 in 1851)