DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Tuesday, 08 November, 2022.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1798-

Swan

Open 2020+

2-4 High Street

West Wickham

020 8777 1832

https://www.swanwestwickham.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/swan

Swan 1881

Above photo, winter 1881.

Swan 1905

Above postcard circa 1905, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Swan 1917

Above photo, circa 1917.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Swan 1920s

Above postcard, circa 1920s, kindly sent by James G Fribbins.

Swan

Above photo, circa 2013.

Swan matchbox 1985

Above matchbox, 1985, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Swan sign 1992Swan sign 2011

Above sign left, August 1992, sign right 2011.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Swan sign 2018

Above sign 2018.

 

I have just added this pub to that list but your help is definitely needed regarding it's history.

As the information is found or sent to me, including photographs, it will be shown here.

Thanks for your co-operation.

 

Manchester Evening News, Monday 28 September 1885.

Alleged Fraud by a Licensed Victualler.

Richard Allen Gould, described as a licensed victualler and likely landlord of the "White Swan," West Wickham, Kent, was remanded at Greenwich today charged with obtaining spirits, &c., to the value of £10, from Holland and Co., distillers, by means of worthless cheques. Several witnesses deposed to receiving cheques from the prisoner, who was proved to have only 10s. 9d. at the bank, while cheques amounting to over £200 had been returned dishonoured.

(At present I have no further reference to a Richard Allen Gould or indeed a "White Swan" at West Wickham, but have added him to the licensee list here till confirmation found.)

 

Bromley & District Times, Friday 25 June 1897.

Ye Olde Swan Hotel, West Wickham.

Proprietor. A. Thomas (late of Bromley).

The best Wines, Spirits, Ales, and Cigars, Luncheons, Dinners and Teas.

Every accommodation for parties. Billiard room and well kept lawn.

Special accommodation for cyclists.

A Commodium Draw-up, good stabling, and excellent stopping stage for drivers and pedestrians during Christmas.

 

The Tatler, Wednesday 25 October 1905.

Above photo, showing Charlie and Olive Hopton of the "Swan Hotel," West Wickham. As to who they are though and their relationship to the hotel, as yet I don't know.

Hi Paul,

The above photo of Olive & Charlie Hopton, must be the grandchildren of the licensee, Arthur Samuel Thomas. From the census of 1901 his daughter Margaret, the children's mother is married to Harry Couchman Hopton, and they are both there with their children Olive and Charles Hopton (grandchildren) and another grandaughter Margaret Hopton aged 9 months. Harry Crouchman Hopton is the Hotel Manager according to the 1901 census.

Michael and Norma Coomber.

 

From an email received 21 May 2020.

Benefits at the West Wickham Swan.

Public Houses have not always been limited to drinking, eating and entertainment as Joyce Walker reveals.

Before the Great War licensing hours did not exist and The Swan at West Wickham was open all hours, not just as a coaching inn but functioning as a public meeting place.

Go back 200 years and you would have found members of St John's Church, West Wickham lining up for parish benefits.

The Swan was used by officials of St John’s Church for meetings of the vestry; dinners for the vestry; housing the poor and sick; payment of weekly 'pensions’ and relief to the poor of the parish.

Evidence of these activities is to be found in the parish poor rate books:

 

1781 December 23, Woman fell sick at the Swan — £1 1s 0d

1782 March 24, Paid for George West at the Swan — £2 0s 6d

1785 March 29, Paid Fryer for eating & drinking at Swan — £1 3s 11d

1787 January 2, Pd a Bill at Swan of Account of keeping Bishop — 9s 10d

1798 May 5, Berrington’s [landlord at the Swan] bill on Vestry Day — £2 14s 8d

1807 September 7 Paid Fuzzey for the horses 1 night & hay and corn at the Swan & Post Lad’s beer — 7s 8d

1812 November 11, To paid at the Swan for Thos. Iverson for 9 days Board Lodging and Beer — £1 7s 0d

1820 February 7, Pd Mr Crittal [landlord at Swan] for Liquor etc. for Constable & man taken at Mr. Best — 4s 6d

1824 March 27, Pd Mr Crittall for Gin to the Men carrying young Baldwin home Dead — 1 s 8d. Coroner’s dinner etc at the Swan — 8s

Some entries will always remain a mystery. Who was Fuzzy? What was the story of the man “taken at Mr Best”? Young Baldwin, however, was a tragic tale, a 12-year-old boy crushed by a cartwheel.

Written 2009.

Kindly sent by Leigh Wallbank.

 

LICENSEE LIST

BERRINGTON ???? 1798+

CRITTALL Richard (Junior) 1820-62+ (also farmer age 71 in 1861Census) Pigot's Directory 1828-29Pigot's Directory 1832-34

McDANIEL William McDaniel 1871-74+ (also Clerk Skinners Co age 57 in 1871Census)

SEVENOAKES Amos Sevenoakes 1881+ (widower age 57 in 1881Census)

GOULD Richard Allen 1885+ see above note

GOBY Ernest 1891+ (age 25 in 1891Census)

HOPTON Harry Couchman (manager age 32 in 1901Census)

THOMAS Arthur Samuel 1897-13+ (age 57 in 1901Census) Kelly's 1903

WILSON Jessie Alexandra Mrs 1918+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/SwanHotel.shtml

 

Pigot's Directory 1828-29From the Pigot's Directory 1828-29

Pigot's Directory 1832-34From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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