The Swan stood on the site of Carisbrook House next to the former Market House. The site of the Swan was later occupied by the Carisbrook Temperance Hotel. The only reference I have is in 1830 when Thomas Pockett is listed at the Swan in Mitcheldean.
Gloucester Citizen: June 1787: A cock-match to be fought at the Swan Inn, in Mitcheldean, between the Gentlemen of Herefordshire and the Gentlemen of Gloucestershire, to show 21 cocks on each side, for Two Guineas a battle, and 20 the odd battle. To weigh on the 26th inst., and fight on the 27th. King for Herefordshire, Voyce for Gloucestershire (feeders).
Hi Geoff,
I’ve now had time to go through the research on Carisbrook House and I’ve found a couple more publicans for you. This research was all done between 2000 and 2004.
I hope this is of interest.
Lynn
Victoria County History pp 173 to 195
References to Inns and Alehouses in the town include information about The Swan, or White Swan which opened north of the Market House around 1712. My researcher was not sure if this just referred to the granting of a licence or the construction of the building (we were focused on the building and subsequent research leads me to believe that the building was there much earlier.
Estate Surveys. The property belonged to what became the Wilderness Estate (owned by the Colchester Wemyss family) and remained part of that estate until sold out in 1919. Estate surveys exist from 1623 but it’s very difficult to pinpoint individual houses, although some lists of tenants are available.
1715. A list of Mitcheldean Chief Rents has survived from 1715. This document was drawn up by Maynard Colchester the estate owner (this name passes down every generation as far as I can work out, the last owner of the estate being F Maynard Colchester who was the Chairman of Gloucestershire County Council at the turn of the 20th Century). Anyway an extract reads:
“Thomas Nourse holdeth by lease dated 13 February 1710 made to him by me of a house now divided into 2 parts whereof one is now the White Swan Inn, together with outhouses, yards, garden and orchard consisting of one acre lying in the town of Mitcheldean
(excepting all trees and wood with iron, cinder and mine with liability to cutt and digg and payment of damage). Habend for 12 years from Lady Day next paying yearly £11 by two half yearly payments, the foresaid rent be also 12lb of sugar covenanted to re-enter for non-payment. To keep and have in all repair, not to let without licence.”
1785. In the 1785 survey there is a map with quite clear numbering. The current building is in 2 parts and these are numbered as 29 and 30. The tenants list shows Number 30 as the Swan Inn and Garden tenanted by a Mr Stephens.
Trade Directories. These are a bit like Yellow Pages you have to pay to be in them, so entries can be “hyped” and because a business isn’t listed it doesn’t necessarily mean that it doesn’t exist – just that the proprietor chose not to pay for a listing.
Pigots Directory of 1830. “ There is a good posting inn, the Swan which is the principal house for the accommodation of visitors in the town” Under “Inns and Public Houses “ appears “Swan and Posting House, Ths Pockett” who you had already identified. Under “Coaches” it says that the Forester Coach from Monmouth to Gloucester calls at the Swan every morning except Sunday at nine, and on return at five in the evening.
Pigots 1842 directory makes no mention of the Swan and talks about coaches leaving the George Inn 3 days a week.
We assumed at this point the business might have ceased and the house gone into private occupation – however for the following 30 years it is still referred to in various documents and censuses as the Swan.
There is a photograph which shows the house around 1912 with a sign saying Carisbrook House, Boarding and Posting, LA Baynham proprietor. He certainly occupied it from at least 1907 and later it became a Temperance Hotel while still under his proprietorship.
It is interesting that there is both a Baynham Road, and a Nourse Place in Mitcheldean.
