DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Thursday, 29 February, 2024.

PUB LIST PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton

Earliest 1760

White Swan

Open 2020+

17 Reading Road

St. Peter's

01843 863051

http://www.whiteswanbroadstairs.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/white-swan

White Swan drawing 1860

Above drawing 1860 by W H Lapthorne.

White Swan 1900

Above photo, circa 1900.

White Swan 1902

Above photo showing the original building 1902.

An old inn, once owned by the Thompson and Wotton Brewery and frequently used by smugglers, dating back to the 1700s. Note the effigy of a swan perched on a pole by the pub’s main door. In 1913 this public house was extensively rebuilt and today bears no resemblance to the above photograph taken in 1902. The one-time landlord, William Harlow, also hired out horses and traps which were in stables situated where the big tree stands on the left of this photograph. Mr. Harlow’s daughter recalls her father teaching North Foreland Lodge schoolgirls how to ride and being called out at all hours of the day to take people by trap to Broadstairs railway station.

White Swan

Above photo taken with permission from Saunders family web.

White Swan 2009

Above photo, October 2009.

White Swan beermat

Above beermat, date unknown, kindly sent by Mike L.

 

 The "White Swan" was rebuilt in 1913 on the site of an ancient inn dating from 1760. White Swan Cottage, next to the pub, attracted many visitors to the Reading Street area a century and a half ago, when Waterloo Cabbages, which reached a height of 20 feet, were grown in the garden. Locally they were known as Riding Cabbage, and their sturdy stalks were used by smugglers as coshes, which could inflict a good deal of damage.

 

Kentish Gazette, 12 April, 1780.

To be sold by Auction, on Tuesday the 2nd day of May next, about 4 o'clock, at the "Red Lion," in the parish of St. Peter in the Isle of Thanet, if not sold before by private contract.

Lot 2. A public house known by the sign of the "Swan --------" with the garden and other appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate at Reading Street in the same parish, and now in the occupation of John Parish. The said premises are all freehold, and not subject to any lease.

Inquire of Mr. Belbey at the "Rose Inn" in Canterbury; or of Mr. Fagg, Attorney at Ramsgate.

 

Kentish Gazette 26 March 1802.

On Tuesday last died, Mrs. Parish, landlady, of the "Swan," Reading Street, St Peter's in Thanet.

 

From the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser, 13 July, 1861. Price 1 1/2d.

SUICIDE AT READING STREET, NEAR BROADSTAIRS.

On Tuesday last an inquest was held at the “Swan Inn,” Reading Street, before W. H. Payn, Esq., Coroner for Dover and the liberties and a respectable jury, whereof Mr Webster was foreman, on the body or a labouring man named Sampson James, aged 68 years. A little boy named Alfred Salver was going to the neighbouring plantation called “Northward Wood,” to get his father's pony, when he saw James hanging on the branch of a tree. The deceased had been in the Union for some time, but had been heard to declare he would not go back. He was inflicted with a fistula. He had four sons, fishermen, in the village, and had been assisted at times by them, but his habits were intemperate when he could get drink. The jury found that he had killed himself while under temporary insanity.

 

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 15 July 1905.

NOT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY A CONVICTION.

ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER AT ST. PETER'S, THANET.

John Harold Bing, on bail, was indicted at the Kent Assizes at Maidstone on Monday for the manslaughter of Charles William Nethersole, at St. Peter's, Thanet, on February 25th.

The case against the prisoner rested chiefly upon the evidence of a witness named Baker, who stated that the prisoner and deceased were in the "White Swan," where they had some words. Witness, who was in the bar with them, heard the deceased say to prisoner: "We will go outside and have it out." They left the house and deceased at once pulled off his coat and wanted to fight the accused. The latter turned to walk away, whereupon the deceased struck at him. Prisoner then, in self-defence, struck the deceased in the face, and knocked him down.

In reply to Mr. Grantham, who appeared for the defence, Baker said the deceased, who was the worse for liquor at the time, was a very quarrelsome man.

The medical evidence showed that deceased dies from a fracture of the base of the skull, which might have been caused by a fall.

Inspector Palmer said it was quite true that deceased bore the character of a very quarrelsome man. Prisoner, on the other hand, was a highly respectable man.

Mr. Justice Bray did not think the evidence was sufficient to justify a conviction, and the jury returned a formal verdict of not guilty.

 

Dover Express 29 January 1915.

On Saturday, at 6.55 p.m., a taxi-cab, driven by Mr. C. H. Harlow, of the "White Swan" public-house, Broadstairs, collided with the iron lamp column near the Buckland Tram Shed (Dover) and fractured it, when taking a wrong turning on Crabble Hill. The mud-guard of the taxi was damaged, and also the body of the car.

 

Thanet Times, Tuesday 18 May, 1965.

Bill was a "late entry" into the pub trade.

Bill Taylor 1965

Ten of the 15 years that Mr. Bill Taylor has spent in the licensed trade have been at the "White Swan," in Reading Street, Broadstairs.
Mr. Taylor regards himself as a late entry into pub life, having previously spent 29 years in the Royal Navy.

He joined the Navy as a boy of 15 and by the time he was 16 he was in China. After 3 years there, he had further spells of overseas duty in the Mediterranean and on the East Indies Station.

Later in his Service career he became a physical training expert and when he retired in 1949 he was a commissioned Physical Training and Welfare Officer.

In his younger days he was a keen hockey player and often played for the Chatham Division. Later he became a first class umpire as well as a top soccer referee.

Even at the age of 42 he was still representing the Chatham Division in field sports.

After leaving the Navy, he was in houses in Gillingham before moving to Broadstairs. For the past 10 years he has been Broadstairs representative on the Thanet Licensed Victuallers' Association committee.

Married, Mr. Taylor has three sons, two of whom are also married and live in the district.

 

 

LICENSEE LIST

PARISH John 1782+

PARISH Mrs to Mar/1802 dec'd

SMITH George 1840-41+ (age 45 in 1841Census)

SILVER Joseph 1851-62+ (age 68 in 1861Census)

SILVER Edward 1871-74+ (age 57 in 1871Census)

SILVER Alfred 1881+ (age 57 in 1881Census)

SILVER Charles 1891-1903+ (age 41 in 1901Census) Kelly's 1903

HARLOW William 1911-22+ (age 49 in 1911Census

HARLOW C H 1934-38+

TAYLOR Bill 1955-65+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/WhiteSwanInn.shtml

 

Kelly's 1903From the Kelly's Directory 1903

CensusCensus

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-

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