Now the New Amsterdam

The site of the Swan can be traced back to the late 17th century - a dwelling place, barn, and 25 acres of land owned by Ferdinando Lindup, a yeoman of the area - a Yeoman being someone who works his land.

It eventually ended up in the hands of Richard Lindup, who built a more substantial property around 1790. In 1842, the building became a lodging house, and by 1849 it had become an ‘Inn’.

1890: Worthing’s inspector of nuisances was called to investigate overcrowding at a common lodging house (The Swan Inn) in the High Street. He was shocked to find no segregation of the sexes and was met by foul and abusive language by the occupiers who set their dog on him.
(Worthing Sentinel)

The Worthing Gazette reported the death of Swan landlord Ernest Dean on Monday, 24 February 1941, age 53. He had been in ill health and had just returned from a holiday. In the evening, he resumed his place behind the bar and joined in a game of billiards., He became ill later that evening and was taken to a rest home, where he died a quarter of an hour later.

The family had been associated with the Swan back in 1900, when Dean's father, William, took over the licence. He died in 1916, and his widow then held the license. Son Ernest in 1921, retired from the police and managed on behalf of his mother, who died five years later. Ernest's sister, Mrs Austin, and her husband used to be at the Castle Inn, Newlands Road.

Marjory Batchelor and her husband Bert, took over the Swan on November 1960.

Marjory wrote a book entitled 'My Life Behind Bars', detailing a fascinating look back at times long forgotten in the trade. Due to Bert's ill health, they had to give up the Swan just four years later.

Marjory continued to work mornings at the nearby Railway Hotel (the Lennox) and later at a hotel opposite the station itself (the Central Hotel), which featured a drag night each Friday!

Time Line

A little bit more

1841 - George Goatcher. Lodging house keeper
1851 - 1861 Licensed lodging house keeper (White Swan)
1889 - James Stone
1897 - Frank Goulding
1900 - 1916 William Dean (beer & lodging house)
1916 - 1926 Mrs Dean
1926 - 1941 Ernest Dean
1950 - 1960 Roy & Gwen Cook
1960 - 1964 Herbert and Marjory Thursby
1964 - Marjory Batchelor (Widow Thursby)

1976: Ronnie Barker, best known as wily prison inmate Fletcher in Porridge, visited the Swan pub, High Street, to open a giant bottle of coins collected for charity

1889: J Stone landlord, appeared before Worthing Magistrate for allowing his premises to remain in a dirty state. The pub's stables also had no drainage.