Swan, Southwold

An advert placed in the Ipswich Journal in July 1805 states that Henry Meadows at the Old Swan Inn, Southwold, would like to thank his many friends for their past favours & was hoping that they would continue to favour him in the future. He added that he had laid in a fresh assortment of the best wines & liquors & had made great improvements to his bed chambers. He ends with a note informing his friends that as there are two Inns called the Swan in Southwold his is the one opposite the market cross. In 1823 two entries are seen - one for an old Swan & the other for a new Swan (probably now called the Crown) - each listed with an innkeeper. In 1839 & 1844 called the Old Swan, Royal Hotel & Posting House In 1900 described as "good coffee rooms, public & private drawing rooms, billiard & bath rooms, liberal table, carriages for hire. Bus meets all trains. Lawn tennis; sanitary arrangements perfect”. In 1912 described as: "two minutes from sea & golf links; with sea view(?), good coffee & public rooms; liberal table; moderate charges; electric light, cycle accommodation, large up-to-date motor garage; cars for hire & petrol supplied; stabling & carriages; omnibus meets all trains." A paperback book published in 1969, called "Inns of the Suffolk Coast" by Leonard P Thompson contains the following extract: “The Reverend James Woodforde, compiler of The Diary of A Country Parson visited Southwold in the Spring of 1786 & was unimpressed by the Swan. He wrote 'We got to Southwold about 12 o'clock & there we supped dined & slept at an indifferent Inn, but very civil Landlords, at the Old Swan, kept by one Berry, late servant to Sir Thos. Gooch';"An auction was held at the inn, in 1750. Lot 94, "A parcel of Hay Broom & furs" was sold to Robert Jacques of the Old Swan Inn. He committed suicide by hanging himself on August 20, 1778. Southwold records contain an entry for 31st March, 1801 when an amount was paid to Mr Meadows at the Swan. In 1857, Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Bockenham married J.E.Child. A yard in the Market place is still known as Child's Yard, from the iron-founder & inventor of the gasometer. In 1896, the proprietors were Adnams & Co, who now also owned the defunct Centre Cliff Hotel. The Swan Inn, like the Sole Bay Hotels' Anchor at Walberswick, has some well-planned & nicely appointed garden houses looking on the the Swan's 200 year old bowling green”. Photographs of this pub and more historical information about it can be found at suffolkcamra.co.uk/pubs/pub/872