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The Swan Inn was situated on Dorchester Road and is now in residential use. Some signage still remain.

The Swan Inn was run by my great, great grandparents, William and Mary Ann Orchard from about 1843 until 1857. Prior to this it was run by Mary Ann's parents, Thomas and Mary Bunn. Thomas was formerly head turnkey at Dorchester Prison. The inn was well situated on the Weymouth to Dorchester road and catered for much passing traffic. Horse-drawn traffic passed through an archway to a yard behind where a drinking trough was still found on my last visit. The Orchards moved out when the railway eventually arrived at Weymouth and passing trade dropped off. Stories passed down in the family include hiding youths from the press gang that came up from Weymouth looking for "recruits" to the Navy and Charles Dickens writing to thank Mrs Orchard for sending on things he had left behind after a stay. This has been difficult to verify but my father saw the letter before his uncle sent it to The Dickens Birthplace Museum at Portsmouth. Local newspaper searches suggest that it was a well appointed inn, holding local auctions, meetings and providing food for large groups on occasions. The Swan Inn had a malthouse attached in the 1820s which caught fire and damaged adjoining buildings. Arson was suspected and resulted in a court case.

David Orchard (April 2015)

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