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Picture source: Peter Whitcomb

The Swan Inn was situated on South Street. This grade-II listed pub is now in residential use.

In 1851 Mr John Hibbs (1822 -1882) was the landlord of the Swan Inn, on the south common at Chailey and had land nearby which was managed by his ostler, where he kept Jersey cattle, pigs, ducks and poultry. Hibbs, who appears to be have been of a good, but strong, character, from the various colourful newspaper reports of his management of the Inn and its customers, being noted for his excellent refreshments and meals, remained landlord until his death in 1882. Mr John Hibbs exhibited six Sussex puppies he had bred at the Keymer Show of August 1863 and in 1865 was offering 7 puppies for sale in the Sussex Advertiser. Hibbs also bred cattle and exhibited these at local agricultural shows. In 1866 he won the best puppy in the Southdown hunt show.

Ki Barnes (July 2021)

Listed building details:

Public House. C17 rear part of two parrallel ranges with early C18 front range, C20 projecting bar front and left side extension. Brick, some painted, and tilehanging with tiled roof and end brick chimneystacks. C18 front range of two storeys three windows. Painted brick with eaves cornice boarded over, but possibly retaining original decoration underneath. Two 16-pane sashes and one early C18 12-pane sash. C20 projecting painted brick bar extension having sashes with horns. Right side elevation has C20 tile-hanging and attic casement. Left side elevation has external brick chimneystack and C20 extension. Rear elevation of front range is tile-hung and has gable with C20 staircase window. At right angles are two probably C17 ranges with half-hipped roofs, tile-hung on the first floor, brick on the ground floor with sash windows to first floor and sliding casement to ground floor and two external chinmeystacks. Interior features include a fine early C18 staircase with turned balusters and square newel posts, attic staircase, staggered purlin roof and inglenook fireplace. Two documents in the East

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