187 High Street, The Swan, Bottisham

History of the Swan

The Swan, later called the White Swan. An archaeological report confirms this.

12 December 1898

A bus driver was summoned for being drunk whilst in charge of three horses and a bus at Quy. P.C. Edwards stated that an omnibus belonging to the Cambridge Omnibus Company, laden with passengers, and drawn by three horses overtook him near the Bottisham Swan, where passengers alighted. He overtook the bus halfway to the Prince Albert. Some of the passengers were then on the road, and the vehicle was on the wrong side, standing partially on the greensward between the hedge and the highway. One of the passengers said the driver was drunk and had nearly capsized the omnibus. The driver got down with difficulty and fell on the road and was so drunk that he could not get up again. He was fined 10s. — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

24 November 1903

The contents of Herringswell House have been sold including a remarkable collection of paintings by J.F. Herring, senior which was formed by the late Mr Mure, who was one of his principal patrons. Many are known to have been painted there. A remarkable painting of the Coach and Four at Bottisham Swan was the gem and the buyer was fortunate in acquiring it for 310 guineas. Others fetched prices from £215 for a set of six hunting pictures to £12 for 12 finely-drawn crayon drawings attributed to Herring — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

2 February 1904

Magistrates received a complaint with respect to the Swan public house, Bottisham. An individual had applied at the house for some tea and bread and butter, but failed to get them. This was a very undesirable state of things in a public house which existed for the accommodation and refreshment of the public. The provision of food is equally as important as the provision of drink. When a man asked for such simple things as tea and bread and butter or cheese, certainly it ought to be within his reach. Similar complaints had come from University men. The public house was on the highway and something should be done to oblige the public — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

15 February 1908

Swaffham Prior had nine licenced houses, six full and three beer ‘on’ for a population of 950. The John Bull was in a dilapidated condition, it was next door to the Red Lion which had stables for four horses and had been put into a thorough state of repair. Bottisham have seven pubs; the Rose and Crown was in bad repair but the Swan had six bedrooms and a bakehouse. Cow and Hare, Rock Hotel, Fen Ditton|: Blue Lion, Fulbourn: Royal Oak, Bottisham: Rose and Crown, Swaffham Prior: John Bull, Reach: Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Lt Wilbraham: Hole in the Wall. 08 02 15 & a & b — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

25 December 1908

The Boxing Day Costermonger’s Marathon Race started from Abbey Street with each competitor pushing a barrow to the Bottisham Swan (a distance of six miles) and back. Performances of the romantic drama ‘From Shop Girl to Duchess’ at the New Theatre appealed to many, while there were cinematograph exhibitions at the Guildhall and at Sturton Town Hall. CWN 08 12 25 — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

26 January 1912

On Plough Monday it was the custom at Bottisham for ploughboys to have half a gallon of beer at each of the five public houses. Police found two of them drunk in the road. One had collided with a wall and could not get up; he was taken home in a wheelbarrow. The landlord of the Swan Inn said he’d only supplied them with beer. But his wife said she’d served the men with whisky that farmer Woollard had paid for. He confirmed that he’d put sixpence in the ploughboys’ box and treated them to whisky. He would be surprised to find men sober who had visited at the public houses in the village. But they were sober when they left. 12 01 26 & a — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

7 February 1913

Bottisham licensing sessions, Swan inn — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1 May 1914

The King’s car slowed down near Bottisham Vicarage where the schoolchildren had assembled. Bugler Bowers, of the Boy Scouts, gave the signal of the King’s approach and the children sang the National Anthem. The well-known house, ‘The Swan’ was beautifully decorated and the church flag floated proudly in the breeze from the tower. Quite a crowd of people from adjacent villages lined the road towards Cambridge 14 05 01g — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

16 September 1924

George Mansfield gave evidence that he started a motor service from Burwell four years ago. He bought a new bus this year. At the Swan corner in Bottisham an Ortona bus passed him and pulled on the bend, making him wait or go bumping over the green. Eventually he passed by going on the path. The Ortona was in the habit of passing him and then going very slowly in front. Defendant said Mansfield started a bus to run in front of the Ortona and take away their customers and the firm would not stand that. — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

31 December 1935

Coster’s annual barrow race to Bottisham swan 25 years ago – photo – 35 12 31a — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.