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The White Swan was situated at 274 High Street. This pub was present by 1794 and closed in 1914.

On the night of the 30th January, 1877, Henry Walker met up with 3 other poachers to illegally catch game in Eagle Woods (now called Stapleford Woods). They split into 2 pairs. In the very early hours of the morning, Clark and his colleague, George Garner, were actively poaching at Norton Disney when they were challenged by an unarmed gamekeeper, Henry Walker. Clark kneeled, aimed and fired his gun at the gamekeepers legs, causing him serious injury. Despite urgent surgery, the injury became infected and the gamekeeper died. Clark absconded and was eventually arrested in Lowestoft whilst attempting to make his way to the continent. At the hearing of the case before the magistrates’ a witness told the court on oath that Clark had been staying at the White Swan, and in the late morning after the shooting she visited that pub on behalf of her husband (another of the poachers) to check if Clark had returned.

Roy Davey (June 2021)

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