The Swan - Burslem

      (Researched and written by Mervyn Edwards 2002)

In the 19th century, the Swan served the community very well as a venue for the meetings of various societies. The St. John's Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows held its 13th anniversary at the Swan on July 21 1834, host Wetherby accommodating 80 persons who dined at his inn. The lodge-room was specially decorated for the occasion with evergreens and other beautiful flowers, whilst the walls were adorned with fine oil paintings. The same lodge of Oddfellows paraded around Cobridge. Longport and Burslem in 1845 in grand procession, having met at the Swan Inn, kept at the time by host and hostess Lander. William Lander is listed as keeping the Swan Inn in White's Directory (1851) which also reveals that he was operating a tallow chandler's business in Massey Square. He died on October 14th 1854, and the family memorial refers to his secondary occupation as a "Chandler". He is buried in Burslem churchyard with his wife Elizabeth Tunnicliff (died 1883).

Another well known friendly society, the Great Wedgwood Lodge of the Ancient Order of Shepherds met at the Swan in 1874, with 250 people in attendance, musical entertainment being provided. The Swan had enjoyed a long association with pottery industry trades unionism. A branch of the Potters' Union Society was established there on April 18th 1825. William Evans, trades unionist and founder of the Potters' Joint Stock Emigration Society in 1844, hoped to provide opportunities abroad for a few of the beleaguered potters. For those who contributed to a central fund of money there was the chance to "escape" to Wisconsin in America, where the Society had purchased land. Unfortunately, only a few departed, and the Society, partly on account of financial difficulties. collapsed by 1851 - as did the fortunes of Evans. Having spent some time in Wales, he returned to the Potteries in 1854. destitute. However, his endeavours had not been forgotten by some. and that year. he was presented with a silk purse containing £20, at the Swan. Evans retained his links with die pottery workforce, becoming Editor of the Potteries Examiner in 1864. This was financed by the Hollow Ware Pressers. In January 1864 a meeting of Hollow Ware Pressers met at the Swan and resolved "That we, the persons composing this meeting, agree to form ourselves in a society for the protection of our trade".

A Turners' Society was meeting at the Swan certainly bv September 1879, by which time the increase in mechanisation in the pottery industry was beginning to spur the workforce into militancy. A meeting during that month passed the resolution "That this meeting pledges itself to the utmost to resist any attempt at [wage] reduction, the employers knowing that, through the introduction of machinery, and the greater skill required, the last advance has been no benefit to the trade at all".

Like many other pubs in the 19th century, the Swan saw its fair share of anti-social behaviour. In 1871, potter Joseph Myatt was charged with being drunk, refusing to leave the premises and assaulting the police. He had struck both the landlady (Mrs Hancock) and her servant and attacked two police constables while being taken to the police station. Fortunately for him. the court subsequently ruled that the officers had been unduly violent towards him themselves, and he was fined 5s. and costs purely on the charge of refusing to leave the Swan. Similarly, Michael Power, a Burslem miner, was fined for being "drunk and refusing to quit" the Swan in 1883, breaking a pane of glass whilst being ejected. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bar counter, Eliza Hancock, the innkeeper, was recommended by the magistrates to pay 10s. and costs in 1877, for watering down her gin - an offence against the Adulteration of Food and Drugs Act.

Arnold Bennett wrote in "Clayhanger" (1910) of "the ancient Duck Inn. where the handbell ringers used to meet". In the same novel, "Big Jim" Yarlett informs Edwin that an 85 year old caged parrot is kept in the pub, whilst in Book 2 Chapter 20 there is a fight outside the Duck Inn, between two striking pottery workers.

In the present bar, there is a black and white photograph of the Swan as it looked before its rebuilding in the mid 20th century.