The Swan, 1 High Street

The Swan Hotel, c1927 [ref: Z1130/10/23/5]

The Swan Hotel: 1 High Street, Bedford (formerly The Swan, The White Swan)

A medieval inn first mentioned in 1506 as either the Swan or the White Swan with the first known occupant being George Rey(g)nolds and wife in 1587. There were various owners and occupants (see below) up until to 1787 when it was bought by the Duke of Bedford [ref: R6/5/12/28].

It was then rebuilt by Francis Russell, the 5th Duke, from 1794 – 1796, with the architect being Henry Holland and is now listed as Grade II* .

From 1839 – 1858 it was run by Charles Higgins who was succeeded by William Wicks from 1858 – 1876. John Adams Elkington took over from 1877 – 1883.

The next proprietors were George Prickett and family who stayed from 1883 – 1898.

Around 1900 William Burr took over with his Hotel Manager being Henry Hore. From 1903 Charles A Theurer was the manager with the site being used as the headquarters of two Masonic Lodges and the County Agricultural Society.

After The Swan was extended in 1906 Harry Browning became the proprietor with George Young being his Manager. From around 1920 Alfred John Paten and family took over employing at least 5 different Managers (Thomas Frederick Murless,  Richard Norman Shaw, John Farquhar, Frank Atkins Oaten and D G R Bilham).

From 1952 up until the present day the site has been listed simply as the “Swan Hotel” with the latest owners being the Distinct Group who purchased the property for £11.5 Million in 2018.

The Swan as viewed from the river, c. 1912 [ref: Z1130/10/23/3]

Summary of Occupiers

1506/7: White Swan/Swan first mentioned in the Newnham Priory Rental documents.

1587: Messuage Swanne in occupation of George Rey(g)nolds & wife Ann

1609: Rowland Miles occupant

1630: William Packer/Parker occupant

1672: White Swan, Elizabeth Walker

1678: Swan houses first Post Office in Bedford

1689: White Swan, Henry Lowen, Vintner

1709: White Swan, Margaret Lowen

1712 – 1714: John Bullivant, John Elliott former occupants, now William Leighton and William Perch

1716: White Swan Inn, John Staines occupant

1769: Swan Inn, in occupation of William Thomas; heir at law, William Staines

1778: Swan Inn, in occupation of John Staines

1785: Mary Thomas, Innkeeper

1787: Swan Inn purchased by Francis Russell, the 5th Duke of Bedford

1794 – 1796: (New) Swan Hotel built by Henry Holland for Francis Russell

1811 – 1824: William Bucklow, Innkeeper

1830 – 1858: Charles Higgins, Innkeeper/Posting House, Wine and Spirit Merchant

1858 – 1876: William Wicks, Hotelier

1877 – 1882: John Adams Elkington, Hotelier and Wine and Spirit Merchant

1883 – 1898: George Frederick Prickett & Son, Prickett & Co, Edwin Eyre Prickett, Hotelier & Posting House

1900 – 1902: William Burr, Hotelier

1903: Charles A Theurer, Manager

1903 – 1910: County Agricultural Society, H R J Swaffield, Secretary

1903: Masonic Lodge "Stuart", No 540, A H Allen, Secretary

1903: Masonic Lodge "Sir William Harpur" No 2343, E J Massie, Secretary

1910: Harry Browning, Hotelier

1911 – 1915: Harry Browning, George Young Manager

1920 – 1922: Alfred John Paten, Thomas Frederick Murless Manager

1923 – 1930: Alfred John Paten, Richard Norman Shaw Manager

1932: Alfred John Paten, John Farquhar Manager

1934 – 1936: Alfred John Paten, Frank Atkins Oaten Manager

1938 – 1939: Alfred John Paten, D G R Bilham Manager

1940 – 1950: A Paten and Co

1952 – 2024: “Swan Hotel”

2018: "Swan Hotel" purchased by the Distinct Group for £11.5 million

View of The Swan from the river [ref: Z1130/10/23/8]

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

Below is a brief list of some of the items we hold at Bedfordshire Archives. The collection of items is vast and is best viewed via our online catalogue.

• R6/5/12: Deeds relating to The Swan, 1587-1833
• QSM32a/3/1: C Higgins, Wine & Spirit Merchant, Swan Hotel, Bedford (with engraved bill head showing hotel), 1836
• X373/73-82: Photographs of Bedford, Swan Hotel, 1855-1879
• R4/92/1-2: Agreements to let Swan Hotel, Bedford, 1858 
• BMB4/1/1/1: Inventory of household furniture, plate, linen, glass & china, implements of trade, horses, carriages and posting establishment, live and dead farming stock, browse of straw, acts of husbandry etc at the Swan Hotel, Bedford, 1858
• BMB4/1/3/2: Inventory & valuation of household furniture, plate, linen, glass, china, horses, carriages, stock in trade, fixtures, farming stock, acts of cultivation, hay, browse of straw etc at the Swan Hotel and Swan Farm, Bedford, 1876
• CC404: Probate of George Frederick Prickett of the Swan, Bedford, hotelkeeper, 1885-1887
• X254/88/55: The Swan Inn (billhead), 19th century
• GK307/13: Plan No. 69 of Swan Inn & George Hotel, Embankment and HighStreet, Bedford, c.1898
• X768/59: Photograph of frontage of Swan Inn, Bedford, with onlookers and the hotel's own horse-drawn carriage outside, c.1900
• X373/418: Photograph of Swan Hotel, Bedford, pre. 1904
• Z52/3: Photograph of Swan float outside the Swan Hotel during celebrations at the coronation of Edward VII., 1901
• CDE207c: Swan Hotel, Bedford [by Usher & Anthony], 1903
• Z1130/10/23/2: View of The Swan Hotel Bedford with a collection of cars on the forecourt., 1909
• Z1182/2: Photograph of Swan Hotel with High Sheriffs Coach on High Street, c.1930
• X291/268: Tariff souvenir (brochure) of the Swan Hotel, Bedford, 1930s
• MHiD6: Plan and Declaration relating to the forecourt of the Swan Hotel , 1947
• BTNeg5884/4-12: Negatives of Prime Minister Harrold Macmillan at The Swan, 1957
• BorBTP/74/140: Planning appliation file of Swan Hotel, Bedford, 1974
• Z1515/6/6/2: Reception to celebrate the Italian National Day at the Swan Hotel, Bedford, 4 June 1998