The Fox Inn was leased by R.J. Arkell (of Donnington Brewery) in 1891 but had been acquired by the Stow Brewery twelve years later. The Fox Inn was de-licensed in 1922.
Wilts & Glos Standard: Saturday, July 21st 1900 – A Village in an Uproar: Two young men, of no fixed abode, were charged with being drunk and disorderly and doing malicious damage to cottage property at Swell on the night of the 12th inst. Prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge, and said they were in drink. PC Simpson stated that he was informed at twelve o’clock, on Thursday night, of the disturbance at Swell, and in company with PC Dance he at once proceeded to that place, and received the two prisoners in custody from a crowd of villagers. They were drunk and very excited. Elizabeth Clark, a widow, stated that shortly after ten o’clock she heard a disturbance and very bad language being used in the road. She went to the window and saw the two prisoners pass by her cottage and then come back again. They got into her garden and into her next door neighbour’s. They pulled up her neighbours gate and a lot of wire netting. They then threw stones through the window. They smashed the downstairs window of her neighbour’s house with the gate post. A stone produced was thrown through her bedroom window, narrowly missing her daughter’s head, who was standing there. They also threw stones furiously at the door. John Gaden also gave evidence as to the disturbance, and stated that he fetched the police.
Edwin Harris, landlord of the Fox Inn, stated that the prisoners came to his house at 7 pm. He served them with three pints of ale each and one pint of cider. They remained till ten, but took away a pint of beer in a bottle – the bottle one of the prisoners was brandishing. As soon as they were in the road one of the prisoners struck a man named Hedges He collared the prisoner and threatened to chuck him in the dyke if he did not clear out. He took them both up the Sell Wold about 20 or 30 yards. The chairman sentenced the prisoners to two months’ hard labour each. He congratulate the villagers on the way they had acted. The men were evidently intent on greater damage.
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: James Harbidge (leased to R. J. Arkell, Donnington Brewery)
Rateable value in 1891: £8.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse
Owner in 1903: Edward Augustus Green, Stow Brewery.
Rateable value in 1903: £16.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlords at the Fox Inn include:
1891 George Hodgkins
1900,1903 Edwin Harris
