|
260-262 (91 in 1871 ) High Street
Bromley
020 8460 5617
https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/swan-mitre
https://whatpub.com/swan-mitre
Above watercolour by J T Wilson, 1869. |
Above photo, circa 1900. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above photo, date unknown. |
Above photo, date unknown. |
Above photo 2013 by Dave Collier
Creative Commons Licence. |
Above sign 1985.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com. |
 
Above sign left February 1992, sign right 2002.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com. |
 
Above sign and plaque, 2016, kindly sent by Roger Pester.
The plaque says the following:- THE SWAN AND MITRE. Early 19th
Century. Last of three surviving coaching inns which were popular with
carters of farm produce and fish on their journey to London. |
Swan and Mitre from guide, date unknown. |
Above advert, circa 1874. |
This pub was once a low roofed inn that catered for waggoners and carters
and had a large horse trough on its frontage. It goes back to 1685 when its
address was 91 High Street. In 1760 William Hill of Pixfield in Beckenham
Lane occupied it.
From 1797-1800 Thomas Miller was landlord and in 1833 Thomas Matthews
William Matthews set up the first billiards room in Bromley in a detached
building at the rear of the pub (1839). William Fownes was landlord in 1848
and Mrs Grisby in 1852. Mrs Grisby added a skittle alley to the premises.
In 1855, John Harradine took over the Swan and Mitre, and he found a huge
collection of crutches in the loft. They had belonged to those people who
had badly needed them when they arrived in Bromley, to see Dr. James Scott,
but had no need of crutches when they left, (he had his surgery just down
the road from here near where Allied Carpets are today).
Joe not only ran the pub until 1866 but he founded the first Court of
Robin Hood Foresters and later became a Collector of Taxes - he built and
lived at Phoenix Lodge along London Road Mrs. Hallett was the landlady later
in 1866 before eventually going to Tonbridge. G Dowden (1869), and W Bray
(1870) (it was during this time that the pub was simply known as The Swan
Inn). James Witham (1874). James advertised the Billiards Rooms in Strong's
Directory. When the address would have been 91 High Street W Shoebridge
(1876). Tom Luggar (1878) between then and 1893 there were ten landlords,
the licensee list is more up to date than this account and still being added
to. However, in 1893 E C Ebden took over followed by Albert A Ferns in 1897.
Albert later ran the "White Hart." Andrew A Adams (1902), C Shaw (1914), and
from 1920-23 Arthur Blom. The mailbag was collected from here during
1685-1784.
The pub was and still is situated on the corner of Beckenham Lane, known
locally as Swan Hill after the inventor of the light bulb who resided near
here, the pub was also known just as the Swan Inn in the 1820's Marie Lloyd
donated the mirrors from her dressing room to the pub after a performance
here - these are now hung on the walls in the middle of the pub.
|
Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal - Friday 21 November 1794.
To be let or sold.
The brewhouse and premises, situated behind the "Swan
and Mitre," Bromley, in the county of Kent.
The unexpired lease of about 33 years. Capable of wetting 5 quarters
of malt at a brewing; casks, copper, plants, &c. To be taken at a fair
valuation. Possession may be had immediately. Apply for particulars to
Mr. Samuel Fish, at Bromley.
|
|
Perry's Bankrupt Gazette 04 October 1830.
INSOLVENTS APPLYING FOR DISCHARGE.
TURNER, John, of the "Swan and Mitle Inn," Bromley, in Kent, licensed
victualler, livery-stable keeper, and milkman.
|
|
South Eastern Gazette, 4 December, 1860.
BROMLEY.
At the petty sessions on Monday, George Lawrence and Benjamin
Lawrence were charged with using insulting and abusive language
towards Mr. Harradine, of the "Swan Commercial Inn," Bromley, on
the 16th November. The defendants pleaded guilty, and were fined 5s.
each and costs, and were also cautioned.
|
|
Maidstone and Kent Journal, 24 November, 1891.
Alleged Theft Of A Watch.
John Byron, 22, of 2, Moorham's Cottage, Park Road, Bromley, labourer,
was charged with stealing on the 12th inst., a gold watch and chain, and
pencil, value £25, the property of James William Ellis, of the "Swan and
Mitre Inn." He pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Ellis said about noon on the 12th instant he went upstairs and found
the articles missing from his bedroom and sent for the police. There
were eight workmen engaged at work in the house on that day, painters,
plasterers, and carpenters. He asked them to consent to be searched, and
they were searched in his presence. The articles were not found. This
was about 12.25 noon. He acts 1.30 o'clock searched the water closet, in
presence of Sergeants Allcock and Forrest. At 3 o'clock the search was
the also resumed, but the watch was not found. He examined the feed
cistern of the water closet under the eaves of the roof, and pulled out
a piece of paper from under it. Prosecutor had left the watch and chain
on a stand at his bedside. The search resumed at 3 o'clock, but nothing
was found.
The prisoner was working about the house and was up and down the stairs.
Prisoner had occasion to go into the room next to prosecutors bedroom.
In answer to Mr. Gregory, who defended, the prosecutor said the closet
was at the back of the house and in the yard; it was open to the public.
Thomas Brown, foreman to Goulder Glascoy, contractor, Croydon, said he
kept observation on the water closet from 4 to 5:10 p.m. and no one
entered it but the prisoner. He went in about 5 o'clock and came out in
about 3 minutes. Witness was in the closet when Sergeant Forrest
searched, and found the watch under the eaves immediately afterwards.
Witness had searched the water closet thoroughly at 4 o'clock, including
the eaves where the watch was found, and it was not there then.
In answer to Mr. Gregory, witness said prisoner and two others were in
the closet between 3 and 4 o'clock, and he could not say why he had not
mentioned this. Witness was working on the roof of the building from
4:10 to 5 p.m. He could see the water closet easily from the roof. The
cloth produced was left hanging in the mess room sometime during the
morning, when he last saw it.
P.S. Forrest proved finding the articles in question.
Detective Smallgrove proved apprehending the prisoner and corroborated
as to the search, in which he assisted. When charged, prisoner said "I
know nothing about it."
Mr. Gregory suggested that the jury would not convict; the prosecution
had spotted their man, and had tried to bring the crime home to him.
Smallgrove, when he went first to the premises, had remarked "I know who
stole the watch," and then tried to bring home the case to the
defendant. Why should the prisoner be selected - a hundred persons had
access to this place. The prisoner had been searched at noon, and he had
not then possession of the watch, nor was he in the place where it was
found.
The Chairman stopped Mr. Gregory, and said the charge would be
dismissed.
|
The "Swan and Mitre" reminds us of the close links between Church and
Crown — the swan is a Royal bird.
LICENSEE LIST
HILL William 1769+
MILER Thomas 1797-1800
TURNER John 1830
MATTHEWS Thomas 1832-40+
MATTHEWS William 1841+ (age 37 in 1841)
FOWNES William 1848-51+ (also omnibus proprietor age 31 in 1851)
GRISBY Mrs 1842+
HARRADINE John 1855-66
HALLETT Mrs 1866+
DOWDEN G 1869+
BRAY W 1870+
CHAMPION Mr to Jan/1872
GRIFFITHS G Mr. Jan/1872+
WITHAM James 1874+
SHOEBRIDGE W 1876+
LUGGER Tom 1878+
BARRETT John 1881+ (age 62 in 1881)
FREEMAN James 1882+
BISHOP Charles E 1891+
EBDEN E C 1893+
FERRIS Albert 1897+
PRING Linda 1901+ (age 62 in 1901)
ADAMS Andrew 1902-03+
SHAW Charles 1913-14+
BLOM Arthur Blom 1918-23+ (also livery stables & garage)
MUSSELWHITE Charles John 1930+
WILKINS Nelly Mrs 1938+
https://pubwiki.co.uk/SwanMitre.shtml
From the Pigot's Directory 1832-33-34
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
Maidstone
and Kentish Journal
Census
|
