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Date of photo: 2017	Picture source: Jo Turner
The Black Swan was situated at 25 Highgate. Grade-II listed house along with 25A built by Priestman and Clarkson about 1760. The Civic Society plaque informs us that it was actually built in 1756 and purchased in 1785 by General Oliver De Lancey who fought for the British in the American War of Independence and died the same year. The Brigadier-General was born in New York raising 3 regiments. He bought the house seeking asylum. He is buried in the Minster. At some point it became a licensed premises known by the name of the New George & Dragon. John Wood’s 1828 plan of Beverley shows two George & Dragons in Highgate, and contemporary trade directories concur (it is not in my 1928 Pigot’s directory), so there were two George & Dragons in Highgate for a short period but this one had changed its name from the New George & Dragon to the Black Swan by 1792. It ceased to be listed in trade directories after 1908 and was made redundant in 1909 when compensation of £530 was paid to the owner Robert Ranby Stephenson. Directory entries include; 1828 one George and Dragon and no other pubs listed in Highgate; 1841 John McConnell, Black Swan; 1855 John Botterill, Black Swan; 1892-1893 Samuel Bielby, Black Swan. (Beerhouses, often don't get listed in early directories or don't have a name given so a lack of entry is not an indication of non-existence).
Source: Steve Turner
Listed building details:
Circa 1760, by Priestman & Clarkson. 3 storeys in red brick with pantile roof with tumbled brickwork to gable ends, which have moulded kneelers. Wood dentil crowning cornice with early C19 gutter superimposed. 6 windows, several of which are blind, arched doorway to side passage with stone imposts and triple keystone. Windows now with centre glazing bar only, gauged heads and stone cills. Wood casing to central doorway, moulded shouldered architrave, pulvinated frieze, between 2 square terminal blocks over which dentil cornice breaks for- ward. Pediment. Door of 6 panels with fanlight. Wrought iron guard rails with scrapers. Staircase has open string, columnar newels, moulded handrail, and turned balusters. Door in hall has moulded and shouldered architrave. Room on ground floor has moulded plaster ceiling cornice.
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