Above photo, winter 1881.

Above postcard circa 1905, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above photo, circa 1917.

Above postcard, date unknown.

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

Above photo, circa 2013.

Above matchbox, 1985, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above sign left, August 1992, sign right 2011.

With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above sign 2018.

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.)

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.