SWAN Pub of West Peckham

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Sort file:- Peckham East and West, January, 2024.

Page Updated:- Saturday, 20 January, 2024.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1852

(Name from)

Swan

Open 2022+

Village Green

West Peckham

01622 812271

http://www.swan-on-the-green.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/swan-on-the-green

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo circa 1930, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo circa 1950, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above photo 2009 by Oast House Archives Creative Commons Licence.

Above photo August 2017, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, 2022, kindly sent by Philip Dymott.

The Swan on the Green 2024. Picture Leigh Freeman.

Above sign 2018.

Above photo, 2022, showing their micro brewery. kindly sent by Philip Dymott.

Above photo, 2020, showing the micro brewery, kindly sent by Philip Dymott.

The pub was referred to as the "White Swan" in the Pigot's Directory of 1828. I am assuming this is the same pub, but do not know when the colour disappeared.

In 2000 the pub was altered to include its own brewery and is brewing its own beer called the "Swan Micro Brewery."

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 7 September 1861.

Hadlow.

An inquest was held last week, at the "Swan Inn," West Peckham, before J. N. Dudlow, Esq., and a respectable jury, of whom William Phillips, Esq., of Park Farm, Hadlow, was foreman, to enquire into the cause of the death of Robert Parks, under the circumstances mentioned in our last. The evidence taken by the coroner clearly prove that the unfortunate young man Parks had been stabbed by Charles Lamb, and from the injuries he thereby received he died. The coroner having somewhat lucidly explained the law of the matter, the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Charles Lamb, who is already in custody on the charge.

Information from their web site accessed 10 October 2016.

SWAN AD 1526

The Inn known by the name and sign of the "Swan" was built in the 17th year of Henry VIII, in 1526, though the original structure has been altered to at different intervals of time, particularly during the reign of George III, and again during that of Victoria.

The house was first licensed in 1685, when in that year one Joshua Cowell, a miller of some repute of this parish was granted a lease and a licence to sell ales from the premises, which at this date bore no title other than that of an ale house and that the said Cowell was of that house.

Before this, for many years, the property with five others nearby had formed a considerable farm estate, belonging to the Eldridge estate of Tonbridge parish, whose family and descendants held title to it and many other lands and properties in around that town and within the town and adjoining parishes of Maidstone. By 1638, over a century after its founding the property had expanded to include a bakery, adjoining orchard and stables. In that year the property, with other dwellings, was split from the estate of Eldridge and disposed of by sale to one Israel Scoones, a corn miller and merchant of Yalding parish. By the 1680s the property was in the hands of Miss Isobella Scoones, spinster and it was her in the year 1685, who granted a lease to the aforementioned, Joshua Cowell.

In 1712, the house, still restricted to one license was kept by Jacob Cowell, baker and by this date had become to be commonly called the "Millers Arms." By 1740 only a widow Cowell is recorded here at the "Millers Arms, on the Green" and like her husband she is recorded as a "Baker and Ayle Keyper." In 1763, the year of Naomi Cowell's death, the house with adjoining dwellings was purchased by one Stephen Walter innkeeper and brewer of Hunton from one Richard Scoones. At this date works were carried out to the property, which it appears, consisted of enlarging by the incorporation of adjoining dwellings. For many years Stephen Walter had kept an inn at Nettlestead called the "Kentish Hoy."

In 1771, he sold the "Millers Arms" with adjoining bakery to one Thomas Oliver, miller, who two years later was granted a full licence for the house and upon being so registered it under the sign of the "Honest Tom" the origin of which dates back to the Romans, who were cheated by a Saxon Miller. As a punishment the unfortunate miller was deprived of his ears. Other millers not wishing to befall the same fate, hung signs outside their establishments stating that they were honest millers and there originated the sign. Thomas Oliver perverted this by introducing a Christian name to the sign.

Thomas Oliver kept the house until his death in 1808, whereafter his wife Mary took over until her own death in 1815, upon the event of which, her son James took over, staying until his death in 1852. In that year the "Honest Tom" was purchased by Richard Gilbert brewer of Wateringbury and after alterations were again carried out to the property, the house was registered under the title of the "Swan." At this date it was kept by Thomas Merriman a wheelwright of East Peckham.

Merrimen kept the house and continued to ply his original trade until his death in 1863, whereafter by widows consent his wife Louisa was granted the license. She stayed until 1866 handing over in that year to Thomas Woollett wheelwright. At this date mention is still made of the adjoining bakery. It was operated by Thomas Tallow. However by 1875, when Woollett gave up the licence to one William Acott, no mention is made of a bakery or again from that date, so one must assume that it ceased to function around that period.

William Acott kept the house until 1887, when he was succeeded by William Watson Cooke, fruit grower. He handed over in 1894 to John Henry Burr, also a fruit grower, who remained until 1908 during the course of his stay here he had built up a reputable trade, selling fruit. In that year of 1900 he was succeeded by Henry James Collingbourne, he in 1914 to William Casson, and he in 1918 by Maurice Chives. At this date the house was owned by Style and Winch Brewery of Maidstone. In 1929, one Harry Carter Howard kept the "Swan" staying until 1934 when it was succeeded by Oliver Prouse and he in 1936, by Harry John Pratt, who remained for many years to follow. In the 1960s the "Swan" was kept by Alex Conquer and today kept by Brian Ralph Coggan.

I am told that the pub is now (2018) operating under the name of the "Swan on the Green."

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Cara Simmonds, 16 October 2022.

Swan on the Green pub in West Peckham to feature in ITV's The Larkins starring Bradley Walsh.

Staff and regulars at a Kent pub will be glued to their televisions to see how much of it made the final cut of a popular TV series.

The Swan on the Green, in West Peckham, was used for filming of ITV's The Larkins – starring Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan.

The Swan on the Green, West Peckham, was used in the filming of the new series of ITV's The Larkins. Picture: Adam Freeman.

Originally based on HE Bates's 1958 novel, The Darling Buds of May, a second series of the show is set to return to our screens tonight (Sunday).

It follows working-class, wheeler-dealer family The Larkins, who embrace rural life to the full.

Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan play the roles of much-loved Pop and Ma Larkin – with Bradley's son Barney set to return as PC Harness.

Kim Mitchell, assistant manager at the Swan on the Green, told KentOnline that filming took place in May this year.

"For this season we closed for two weeks and opened to the public at the weekend," she explained.

Parts of The Larkin series was shot in West Peckham, as seen here. Picture: Objective Fiction / Genial Production.

Bradley Walsh returns as Pop Larkin. Picture: Objective Fiction / Genial Productions.

They only filmed during the week, and in total they were here for roughly eight to 10 days."

Kim added it was the second time the Swan on the Green had been used as a filming location for the show.

She said: "They came out last year as well and filmed a bit inside and outside – it was really lovely seeing our little village actually on television.

"We had to keep our distance because they were filming, but all the cast and crew seemed really nice.

"My daughter also has a photo of my granddaughter with Bradley outside the pub.

Manager Adam Freeman says his daughter became best friends with Bradley Walsh when they were filming the Christmas special. Picture: Adam Freeman.

"Though he probably gets asked lots of times – we try and be tactful."

Over the centuries, the pub was named the The Swan, then The Millers Arms, Honest Tom's and eventually back to Swan on the Green in 2000.

Previous owners also used the site as a bakery and most recently a microbrewery.

Although the original structure has been changed, parts of the current building still date back to the 16th century.

On its Facebook page, the pub thanked the production team for coming back to film, saying: "It was great to be involved again and the cast and crew were so friendly and we've missed having them around, so will be good to see what they've done this time and how much we are featured in this series.

The pub was transformed back to the 1950s. Picture: Adam Freeman.

Both inside and outside of the building was used for different shots. Picture: Adam Freeman.

"Get it on record, remember to order that takeaway and sit down and be sent back to the 1950s with the loveable Larkins."

In July, the cast and crew were spotted filming part of the series at Tonbridge Castle.

In the upcoming episode, titled 'Bad Neighbours', viewers can also spot St Dunstan Church and the village green in West Peckham.

This series will see The Larkin family at war with their new neighbours, the Jerebohms.

Kim adds that she will definitely be watching tonight.

Viewers will be able to spot St Dunstan Church and the village green in the upcoming episode. Picture: Adam Freeman.

"Oh yes," she said. "In actual fact I suddenly realised late last night that they were doing a re-run of the first season, so I watched that as well.

"I remember seeing the original Darling Buds of May series back in the 90s."

The Larkins series two airs tonight (Sunday) at 8pm on ITV.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alan Smith, 10 January 2024.

West Peckham villagers raise £300k to buy The Swan on the Green which was seen on ITV’s The Larkins.

Villagers have high hopes of soon being in a position to purchase their local pub which appeared on an ITV drama.

So far, £300,000 has been pledged by residents of West Peckham and its neighbouring communities to buy the Swan on the Green from its current owner, Gordon Milligan.

Some of the steering group.

Mr Millgan has agreed a price to be paid with the organisers of the Swan Community Project, who want to see the boozer, which dates to 1526, continue as an inn and not be lost to housing.

Ray King, who is chairman of the community group, said: “There is very good reason to be confident. We have already had nearly £300,000 pledged by supporters, each willing to give at least £250.

“We are also working very hard to finalise our application to the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove for a grant under the Community Ownership Fund.”

The application must be submitted by January 31 and the village should know if it has been successful eight weeks later.

Ray King.

Mr King added: “Obviously it’s a challenge. We are applying for £250k and the Government doesn't give that sort of money away without making you jump through a lot of hoops.”

The agreed purchase price has not been disclosed, but group chairman said the fund-raising target was flexible in any case.

He said: “Beyond the purchase, there’s a certain amount that will be needed for essential repairs and refurbishment.

“Beyond that, if we have enough money, there are certain improvements we would like to make."

The next stage will be the issuing of a share prospectus, due at the end of February, when villagers will be asked to convert their pledges into cash.

The steering committee: behind the bar, from left, Warren Gilbert, Jonathan Pearce, Kim Mitchell, Kerry Goodfellow, Graham Bonner-Leney and Alan Ritchie. In front of the bar, from left, Sarah Talbutt, Robert Merrifield and Michael Wooldridge.

The Swan on the Green will be familiar to many readers as it was used as the setting for the “Hare and Hounds” for the 2021 filming of The Larkins TV series starring Bradley Walsh.

The Swan Community Project is hoping for support from the wider community. As part of that campaign, it is taking a “road show” to the surrounding villages including Kings Hill and Wateringbury.

The first roadshow will be at Mereworth Village Hall on Thursday, January 18, starting at 7.30pm. All welcome.

LICENSEE LIST

TIBBY William 1828-32+ ( White Swan)