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Date of photo: 1965	Image taken from the Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs website www.swop.org.uk, and shown with the permission of the copyright holder High Wycombe Library
The Swan Hotel was situated on Pauls Row. Very close to the centre of town, this small hotel also contained a bar and restaurant. This pub was present by 1841 when the publican was William Abbott. It was demolished in November 1966 to make way for the new Octagon shopping centre.
Source: David Chapman
Borough Petty Sessions .-Saturday last. Before B.J. Tuck, Esq. (Mayor); W.J. Gregory, Esq. and Charles Fowler, Esq. Drunkeness and Crime. - William Haggar, a person dressed as a gentleman's servant, was charged with stealing two mutton chops, the property of Mrs. Maria Abbott, of the Swan Inn.-Prisoner pleaded guilty, and said, he was so drunk that he did not know what he was about. He came to Wycombe to apply for the situation of ostler at the Falcon Inn. - Superintendent Davis said, the prisoner was much in liquor, he had made enquiries as to his character in Windsor, and found nothing against him. He had some high testimonials from several noblemen and gentlemen. The bench ordered him to be imprisoned 7 days.
South Bucks Free Press, 1st October 1859
Borough Petty Sessions,-Oct. 8th. Present B. J. Tuck, Esq. Mayor; and W. J. Gregory, Esq. Robbery By A Servant. - Alice Plumridge was brought up on remand. The  depositions having been read over, she was asked if she had any person to speak for her. Mrs. Abbott, of the Swan Inn, said, the girl lived with her four months, and during that time nothing amiss was known of her. The bench ordered her to stand committed to the House of Correction for one month with hard labor.
South Bucks Free Press, 15th October 1859
Borough Petty Sessions,-Oct. 11th. Before the Mayor and Justice, and Capt. Grove. Stealing Sheets. Joseph White was brought up in custody, charged with stealing three sheets, the property of Mrs. Abbott, of the "Swan" Inn. Mrs. Abbott said: On Saturday last, the 7th instant, between five and six o'clock in the evening, the prisoner came to my house and asked for lodgings for two or three days; he slept at my house that evening, and on Sunday morning I heard him go downstairs between six and seven o'clock; there was nobody in that part of the house but the prisoner; the girl missed the sheets, and I gave information to the Supt. of Police; the sheets are worth 15s. She identified the sheets as her property, two of them being marked with her name. Elizabeth Tilbury, servant to Mrs. Abbott, said: On Saturday last I made up the beds in the house; the prisoner came the same evening and asked for lodgings; he slept in a three-bedded room; the following morning I went into his room to make the beds, and missed two sheets from that room, and one out of the adjoining room; I gave information to my mistress. Supt. Davis said: On Sunday I received information of the loss of the sheets and went to Uxbridge in pursuit of the prisoner, but could not find him; on Tuesday, from information I received I went to Windsor, and there apprehended him; I charged him with stealing the sheets from Mrs. Abbott's; he first said the sheets were his, but afterwards said it was no use denying it - he was hard up, or he would not have done it, for he had only one penny in the world when he got up. Remanded. On Thursday the prisoner was again brought up, the Superintendent having received a letter from P.c. McCloskie, stating that Joseph White was convicted on the 8th July at Slough Petty Sessions and sentenced to three calendar months' hard labour for stealing a suit of clothes from the George Inn, Colnbrook, where he had slept on the 6th July. The prisoner, therefore, had only just completed his term of imprisonment on Saturday, when he committed the robbery on Mrs. Abbott. He was committed for trial at the Sessions."
South Bucks Free Press, 14th October 1865
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Other Photos
Demolition of The Swan, 1966	Image taken from the Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs website www.swop.org.uk, and shown with the permission of the copyright holder Bucks Free Press