Swan Public House in the 1960s [WB/Flow4/5/Sal/S1]
Swan Public House: Wavendon Road, Salford
The first reference to the Swan in a document held by Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service is in 1827 when it appears in an inventory of premises owned by Ampthill brewers John and Joseph Morris. It had hitherto been known as the White Horse. It remained a Morris public house| until that company sold out to J.W.Green Limited of Luton in 1927. Greens merged with Flowers Brewery in 1954 and adopted the Flowers name, Flowers were then taken over by Whitbread in 1962. In 2001 Whitbread sold its brewing business and public houses and at the time of writing [2006] the Swan, having been extensively refurbished, is owned by Peach Pubs who have properties in Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.
Swan after the fire of 1905 [Z50/98/23]
On 6 Jan 1905 the Swan suffered a disastrous fire when some straw being stored on the premises caught fire and gutted the pub. However, it was rebuilt and business continued, including a butchers in the adjoining barns.
In 1927 the pub was valued for rates as part of the 1925 Valuation Act. The yearly rent was £60, the same as in 1914 and the premises consisted of a kitchen and scullery, storeroom, bar and taproom downstairs, with a cellar beneath and four bedrooms upstairs; outside were a granary, four pigstyes, two store barns, am open cartshed, a coal barn, a stable for two horses, a loosebox, a double coachhouse and a corn store. Water was from a well and lighting from lamps, thus no electricity was laid on. Takings were about £380 per annum, with seventy barrels of beer and twelve gallons of spirits sold in the course of a year. The valuer was clearly impressed noting that it was a "Very good modern house. Excellent buildings. Good draw up". Perhaps he was a bit too impressed as he gave the place a rateable value of £24 which was reduced, on appeal, to £21.
Swan in February 2007
References of Documents held by Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service
- Z1043/1: listed in inventory of John & Joseph Morris of Ampthill, brewers: Jun 1827;
- X21/629: conveyance of properties from Joseph Morris to devisees under the will of John Morris, deceased: 24 Jun 1828;
- WB/M/4/1/VP1: Mortgage for £30,000 from John Morris to Mary and Catherine Morris of various properties including Swan, formerly White Horse with 1 acre, in occupation of Robert Emerton: 28 Dec 1831;
- WB/M/4/1/VP2: Mortgage from John Thomas Green to Susanna, Mary Jane and Sophia Morris of a number of properties including Swan, formerly site of three cottages including White Horse conveyed by Benjamin Agutta to John Morris on 19 May 1849: 16 Jun 1882;
- WB/M/4/1/VP8: Abstract of Title of Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited to various properties including Swan, butcher's shop and close of 1a 0r 2p, tenant in 1907 Alfred Henry Allen: 1900-1926;
- Z50/98/23: postcard of ruins of Swan after fire: 6 Jan 1905;
- Z50/98/24: postcard of newly rebuilt Swan: 1906;
- CC5304/1: conveyed, with other properties, to Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited: 1907;
- WB/M/4/2/1: mentioned on list of properties of Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited: c.1926;
- WB/M/4/2/2: mentioned on list of properties of Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited (licensee B.E.Lett): Jun 1926;
- WB/Green4/1/VP12: conveyance of various properties from Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited to J.W.Green Limited including Swan, butcher's shop and 1a 0r 24p in occupation of Bertie E.Lett: 1 Jul 1926;
- WB/Green4/2/5: list of properties of J.W.Green Limited, tenant: Major S.H.West: c.1936;
- WB/Green/6/4/1: J.W.Green Limited trade analysis ledger for various properties: 1936-1947;
- WB/Green4/2/4: Certificate of title of J.W.Green Limited to various properties: 1936-1952;
- WB/Green4/2/9: Schedule of deeds of properties owned by J.W.Green Limited: 1949;
- WB/Green4/2/16: list pf properties owned by J.W.Green Limited: 24 Jul 1952;
- WB/Green4/2/17: Second schedule of trust deed showing properties owned by J.W.Green Limited: 1952;
- WB/Green4/2/18: certificate of title to J.W.Green Limited properties: 31 Mar 1954;
- WB/Green4/2/19: lists of properties owned by J.W.Green Limited: 1954;
- WB/Flow4/5/Salford/S1-3: photographs taken for Flowers Limited: 1960s;
- PCHulcote&Salford6/4: refusal by Whitbread Limited to allow grounds to be used as a play area: 1991-1993
Licencees: note that this is not a complete list and that dates in italics are not necessarily beginning or end dates, merely the first/last date which can be confirmed from sources such as directories and deeds:
1822 - 1828: Robert Emerton;
1847-1853: Mrs.Mary Emerton;
1854-1869: Robert Emerton;
1877-1887: Robert Odell;
1887-1902: Charles Denton (also butcher); 1902-1904: William (or Arthur) Woodbridge;
1904-1905: Alfred John Faulkner;
1905-1913: Alfred Henry Allen;
1913-1917: Bertie Edward Lett;
1917-1920: Emily Lett;
1920-1941: Bertie Edward Lett;
1941-1948: Albert Leslie Dyer;
1948-1974: Samuel Horace West;
1974-1982: Robert Ian Fessey;
1982-1985: John Jackson;
1985: Terence Edward Taylor;
1985-1987: Steven James Leonard and Keith Douglas Smith;
1987-1992: Kenneth James Hendry Gillies;
1992-1993: Nicholas Hall and Christopher Edward Hall;
1993-1996: Richard James Salisbury and Susan Lynn Salisbury