New Inn, Trinity Foot, Swavesey

History of the New Inn

Swavesey OS 1901

David George Crouch’s reminiscences of living in Swavesey are in ‘Memory Lane’ (2004) Swavesey History Society.

In 1913 the New Inn became vacant. David’s paternal grandparents, Edward and Mary Ann Oakham from Dereham Norfolk with their two children, Mabel and George, became the new tenants.

In 1914 Edward was deemed unfit for military service so was employed by the government to travel the country requisitioning horses. Mary Ann and Mabel were left to run the pub. Later David’s mother Mabel, joined the Womans Land Army.

After World War One the New Inn became a busy overnight stop for those delivering goods by motor between the Midlands and towns like Cambridge.

In 2026 Bill Ellis sent this note about Swavesey history:

My great-grandfather Joseph W Ellis was the village doctor in Swavesey. His youngest daughter Peggy was left looking after him after the Great War after his wife had died. We were told she had run away with a gipsy, but John Shepperson of Boxworth End, the doyen of Swavesey local history, told us the true story a few years ago. He said that the landlady of the New Inn died and, since she held the licence, her husband, a travelling salesman we think, was suddenly homeless. Dr Ellis took pity on him and allowed him to live in a caravan behind the surgery. When young Peggy started to take an interest in Mr Oakman (the version of the name in our records), Dr Ellis turned him off the property. However Peggy went with him, married him and had children with him. She later attended her father’s funeral as Mrs Oakman. I think the rest of the family just about disowned her, although I do remember my father getting phone calls from “Aunt Peggy”, usually asking for money. All brought to mind by stopping at Boxworth services, former location of the New Inn, for lunch yesterday!