History of the Swan With Two Nicks at Worcester in the county of Worcestershire. Research is augmented with photographs, details of licensees, stories of local folklore, census data, newspaper articles and a genealogy connections section for those studying their family history.
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Swan With Two Nicks |
© Copyright. Images supplied by Digital Photographic Images |
Here you can see part of the Swan With Two Nicks next to King Charles' House. On the latter there is an inscription over the doorway that reads: 'Love God, honor ye King.' It is a queer timbered place of 1577 [latterly an antiques shop] where Charles II spent the night before the Battle of Worcester, and after his defeat escaped by the back door as the Parliament men pursued him at the front. Originally it filled the whole of the corner site, but the greater part was destroyed by fire at the end of the eighteenth century. Notice the slogan "Home Brewed Ales" on the wall of the Swan With Two Nicks. Local intelligence seems to suggest that Ma Watkins was the last publican to produce homebrewed ales on the site. Production of beer ceased sometime during the 1940's. At first glance, the Swan With Two Nicks appears to be a more modern building than its next door neighbour. However, beneath the 18th facade lurks a much older timber-framed structure. This is thought to date from the middle of the 15th century, though it is believed that a house existed on the site during the 13th century. The frontage is typical Georgian with its concealed roof, painted brick, ashlar copings and sills, plus a cast-iron rainwater-head and fall pipe. Two of the windows are blocked up, a legacy perhaps of the window tax introduced during the reign of King William III. The entrance is directly under these blind windows and the door surround features a pediment on brackets. The interior of the building has been altered to cater for the modern consumer but there are exposed chamfered beams and purlins to enjoy. Occupied since the middle of the 16th century, the building was partly converted into a public house by 1764. In that year the leaseholder was Charles Lea. The pub was seemingly called The Swan at this time. The tenant in 1771 was James Crump and soon after the trading name had changed to the Little Swan. Pigot's trade directory for 1828-9 lists the pub as the Swan With Two Necks when the publican was George Burrow. By 1840 Thomas Calder was in charge of the business. He kept the pub with his wife Sarah; the couple had two young sons called Thomas and James. They employed John Glover and Mary Harding as servants. Following the death of Thomas Calder in the 1840's the licence of the Swan With Two Necks passed to his wife Sarah. She was helped by her son Thomas who was also a horse dealer. Also living on the premises was her elderly mother-in-law Harriett Calder who originated from London. Sarah Calder employed three live-in servants suggesting that trade was fairly busy at the house. When Sarah Calder hung up her apron for the last time, she and members of the family, including son Thomas who continued as a horse dealer, moved to a residence close to the Farriers' Arms. The fact that they retained the services of two servants suggests that she had accumulated some wealth during her working years.
The pub was still listed as the Swan With Two Necks in Littlebury's Directory
and Gazetteer for 1873 in which James Watton was recorded as the licensee.
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![King Charles House [c.1905]](http://www.midlandspubs.co.uk/images/worcestershire/Worcester-King-Charles-House.jpg "King Charles House [c.1905]")
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