The White Swan, Halifax



Contents:

The White Swan Inn & Posting House: 1585-1858

The original inn – The Swan – was built around 1585. It stood on, what is now, the north-west corner of the junction with Crown Street / Princess Street.

Anthony Foxcroft was recorded as living here in 1585.

James Foxcroft, the Constable, was recorded here in 1643, at the time of the Civil War.

The Leeds Intelligencer [9th December 1777] advertised


Valuable Property in the Centre of Town.

For Sale by Auction during the Spring, the newly built, admirably arranged HOTEL known as the WHITE SWAN with extensive stabling and Out Offices and a Plot of Land opposite the Hotel and on the East side of Princess Street

 

It was a coaching inn for services to Leeds, London, Manchester and Liverpool.

In June 1827, they advertised


The Alexander Coach every afternoon (Sundays excepted) arrives at the White Swan Inn, Halifax at 8 o'clock in the evening and returns at half past six in the morning arriving at Leeds in time for the York, Hull, Scarboro, London, Sheffield, Harrogate, Ripon, Richmond, Masham and Middleton coaches
 

The Leeds Intelligencer [Saturday] advertised


Swan Inn, Halifax – To Let.

First rate Posting House and Coaching.

Particulars from Mr Rayner the Owner or Mr John Carr, the present occupier

 

Later known as the White Swan Inn And Posting House, the Swan stood at 31-35 Crown Street, Halifax.

The original inn – The Swan – was built around 1585 and was demolished in 1858 when Princess Street was constructed and the White Swan Hotel was opened. Sarah Daxon continued her tenancy at the new hostelry.

This is discussed in Views of Ancient Buildings in the Parish of Halifax and Yorkshire Coiners.

See Captain Hodgson and Wilson's advert in verse


Innkeepers, licensees and landlords:

 

The White Swan Hotel: 1858

The White Swan Hotel stands on Princess Street, Halifax.

It was built in 1857-1858 for John Crossley to accommodate businessmen and the company's visiting customers.

Designed by Lockwood & Mawson or possibly Smith & Parnell

A boiler exploded on 24th January 1859, injuring 3 people:

The Halifax Guardian [Saturday 3rd April 1869] advertised


Sale by Auction in Spring

The newly built, admirably arranged and well accustomed Hotel known as the White Swan, also the shops and buildings on the East side of Princess Street, occupied by Alfred Pigg as part of his drapers establishment, Mr Whiteley Deighton, bookseller and Mr Bedford.

Also the newly built SHOPS AND DWELLINGHOUSES at the corner of Waterhouse Street, extending along the South side of Crossley Street to the Mechanics' Hall and occupied by the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society Mr Place, a carver & gilder Messrs Mewburn & Barker, share brokers

 

A 1900 advertisement for the business announced

Family and Commercial Hotel and Posting House, Halifax

An Hotel Omnibus meets every train

Telegraphic address "Swan" Halifax
Telephone No. 45
H. Birkenshaw, Proprietor

In July 1907, the Hotel was put up for sale by auction but the sale was suspended and withdrawn at £6,500 when the bids failed to reach the asking price.

In 1912, the Hotel was bought by Richard Whitaker & Sons who owned it until 1951, when it was sold to the Trust House group.

The Hotel was re-constructed & re-furnished and re-opened on 11th February 1914.

In recent times, the Hotel has had several owners – and several names – being known variously as the Halifax Princess Hotel, The Queen's Hotel, and the Hotel St James.

In 1990, it became the White Swan once again.

In 1999, it was bought by the Fairhaven Group.

This is discussed in the books Halifax Pubs and Halifax Pubs: Volume Two.

See Whitehall Road, Hipperholme


Innkeepers, licensees and landlords:

  • 1858: Sarah Daxon
  • 1864: Sarah Daxon
  • 1873: H. C. Cain
  • 1873: Halifax White Swan Company Limited
  • 1881: John Foster [Hotel manager]
  • 1890: Miss Murgatroyd
  • 1891: Emma A. A. Murgatroyd [Hotel manager]
  • 1894: Robert J. Heaps
  • 1900: H. Birkenshaw
  • 1905: H. Birkenshaw
  • 1914: E. Glover
  • 1917: Henry Arthur Powell
  • 1918: Henry Arthur Powell
  • 1936: S. Gaskin

 

See Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society offices




© Malcolm Bull 2021
Revised 20:14 / 15th December 2021 / 12115

Page Ref: QQ_45

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