One of Bridgnorth's oldest pubs to reopen as cocktail bar under new name

Local historian, Clive Gwilt, says it is mentioned in historical records dating back as far back as 1392 when Hugo, the Earl of Stafford had a mansion in the High Street.

"The mansion is mentioned in 1471 as Le Swanne as a resting place for travellers and again in 1477," said Clive. "In 1492 it was known as a hospice called ‘Le Swanne’, and of course that meant it was a resting place for travellers."

He said its name stemmed from swans being a favourite emblem of many of the English Kings.

Clive said the original building appears to have survived the great fire of 1646 but it was partly burnt down a few years later. It was rebuilt and named on a lease in 1647 as ‘The Swanne’.

"It appears on a list as first being licensed in 1690, although ale was sold many years before this," said Clive. "Various lease-holders are recorded but there are no actual pub records until 1723 when a Mrs Sarah Butcher is noted as having leased ‘The Old Swan’ for 21 years.

"In November 1748, records show it was referred to as the ‘Old Swan’, a tribute to its ancient standing. The landlord was Thomas Lester and the property was in possession of the Ottely family."

A few years later the Swan advertised itself as a family, Commercial and Posting Hotel, and in June 1855, Mr Price of the Harp bought the pub for £1,070 at an auction in the Queens Hotel in Birmingham.

He moved in on December 1856 and conduced a major renovation of the building.

It was later renamed The Swan Commercial Hotel after owners Mitchell & Butlers of Birmingham took over in 1900. At this time it had 12 rooms upstairs and 8 rooms downstairs.

Clive said it has remained as a pub ever since, but it also has a spooky past.

"In 1998 a ghost was seen here by barman Mr Wallace Bevan," said Clive.

He said that Mr Bevan described the apparition as "a male dressed in a white suit and a trilby and also had a moustache" and that he looked "like a character from an old Errol Flyn Film".

"Mr Wallace said staff were preparing to open up when he looked up and saw a man in front of him. He was wearing a 1920s style white suit and a floppy white hat," said Clive . "The barman thought he had wandered in off the street and looked towards the door but it was still bolted. When he looked back the figure had disappeared.

"Others have seen this figure but each time they look away it disappears.

"A woman dressed in black with lace up boots has been seen outside the Swan. She appears to float down the High Street and as soon as she approaches the Cartway she disappears.

"She is believed to be a woman who committed suicide after her lover broke her heart. Several strange noises have also been heard and the glass washer regularly starts up on its own," added Clive.

More recently, the Swan was leased to Prezzo who opened in December 2015. A few year later it re-opened as the Old Swan Inn.

However, a new licensee has now taken over the historic hostelry, and the pub was closed for refurbishment in January.

It is now set to soon reopen as a cocktail bar called The Greenhouse and a new sign has been erected outside the former pub.