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Huthwaites Past Public Houses

The White Swan

The White Swan stood until 1960 at the centre of several small early derelict cottages. Outlined buildings are more clearly identifiable from a 1900 Urban District mapping which all addressed the area called Swan Yard. But the pub was one of the first identified in Hucknall-under-Huthwaite. Established in this sparsely populated rural hamlet before 1828 entry into the earliest Trade Directories which followed rapid growth.

Swan Yard

Roughly located here are those historic pub grounds addressing the past Swan Yard. Pub access was gained off Main Street, directly opposite Sherwood Street, although a footpath extended up through the yard connecting Back Lane. During a period of fuller village modernisation this entire site became demolished shortly after my birth, to be found replaced by extending newer Swanson Avenue housing.

The White Swan was one of only three public houses identified initially serving Hucknall-under-Huthwaite. It would be hard determining when it was built, or if descriptions of a thick walled, long building were original designs for an alehouse. Probably a cottage row or converted farm building like many of our later pubs. The names of earliest landlords are extracted from dated village Gazetteers and trade directories. Identified as victuallers or publicans they were offered tenancy here under former reign of the Home Brewery Company.

Although alehouses were long considered being a male domain. the White Swan firstly appears in keep of Hannah then Jane Chambers. A little suprised, until also finding one Thomas Chambers titled Corn Miller. Between so few village traders could marital relations be fairly assumed, perhaps passing on the business to daughter Jane. It later becomes apparent how many publicans already held a recognised trade, needing a secondary income or chancing potential alternatives.

Jumping into 1844 and Thomas Sims runs the simpler named Swan. Such renaming may reflect changes perhaps associating reference with Swan Yard. Dual trade listings for Herbert Simpson under Hosiery Agent reveals another growing market, perhaps helping fund his longer tenancy. Quite a gap before finding Robert Wilson runs the formerly named White Swan through 1889, handing keys onto George Allen during more rapid village expansion amid growing competition for serving an influx of thirsty miners.

Indebted here to Robert Holland whose genealogy uncovers the tenancy by Hezekiah Holland between 1896 and 1927, helping present these rare and marvellous photos fronting their Public House with family .

Above follows two successive seasons for the Huthwaite United Football Club taken 1913 and 1914. Their smartly suited outfit for the latter year may well be attributed to the landlords support. Identifying Hezekiah in the doorway as the Clubs President, listed among all the named team for that cup winning season.

Missing a large period of our history the final 1941 listing offered name for William Oliver Lawrence. But this photograph kindly supplied and verified by Mavis Radford of 1945 VE day celebrations also fronts the White Swan. Just revealed over its doorway is the Licensed Retailer G Poyser. Listed earlier in 1941 a Sutton Road fruiterer, George Hall Poyser has also been recalled by a few patrons while he continued selling fruits from his lorry.

Still unsure if Poyser was the last landlord, but a dwindling number of residents able to recall pub use describe two small gas lit rooms, left coldly outdated in comparison between the choice of several other established Huthwaite premises. Horse drawn dray carts made cellar deliveries from atop Back Lane while last seen games on Swan Yard of horse shoe tossing competitively attracted very large stakes.

Eventual closure allowed the license transferral in 1956, necessary for opening a new Worksop pub. Mr Eric Jones last occupied the vacated premises when starting out raising a family, making way for its 1960 demolition which cleared all old Swan Yard properties.