Page 25 - Thrapston Life July 2024

GLANCE AT
THE PAST
Eric Franklin looks back
Thrapston has, over the years, supported many public houses. Today just four remain, five if the Bridge Hotel reopens. In the last issue of the Local History Society’s magazine, Strapetona (published in 2018) I wrote an extensive article on these establishments. In this Glance at the Past, we look at three long gone pubs and one still open with at least one major alteration.
The Swan Inn, later Hotel, covered the site of the Fire Station and Library, part of the building being seen on this picture from circa 1930 (top of page). The last shop on the right is now the Delicious take-away. The earliest recorded date for The Swan is 1634 when the licensee Prithro Luckington died and left the lease to his wife Mary. On 12th February 1824 the Thrapston Association for the prosecution of Felons held their Annual General Meeting at the Swan. The Association also had a trained bloodhound specifically to capture sheep-stealers. On one occasion to test the dog, a man was given
an hour’s start, the dog catching him ninety
minutes later nearly 15 miles from the start. Covering a large area, the Swan was demolished in 1965 along with the rest of the north side of the narrow High Street. The second picture was taken from the rear of the premises just days before demolition began.
Also on the High Street, and commemorated by the name King’s Head Passage beside the Library, stood the King’s Head, First recorded in 1698 this was the second oldest in town, after the Swan and survived until the area was demolished in the 1960’s. In 1875, the local
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