Romsey Working Men's Conservative Club, 13 Market Place, Romsey

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 24 Feb 2019

Grade II Listed 17th century or earlier extensively renovated 1967-8. A plaque on the wall advises that the building is on the site of the Swan (or White Swan) Inn and that in 1642 two of Cromwell's troops were hanged from the wrought iron sign bracket on the wall. Lord Fairfax a no-nonsense disciplinarian who stayed at the inn found the sign useful to hang deserters on, two at a time. Reputedly one of the pair managed to cut himself loose and run into a nearby alleyway, where he soon died. The Conservative Club was founded in 1883 and a Francis Frith photo of 1898 (https://www.francisfrith.com/romsey/romsey-the-palmerston-monument-1898_42103 ) shows the building as the 'Romsey Working Men's Conservative Association', the association being formed in 1894. Whites Directory of 1895 lists John Scorey & the Swan private hotel Market Place so it seems likely the club moved in between 1895 and 1898 despite claims the swan closed in 1894. A search of my directories found; 1784 there is a Swan & Dolphin with William Galpin, no location given; 1792 John Ludford; 1828 James Gilpin, White Swan; 1844-1852 Daniel Newman, White Swan (& excise office) then by 1855 Daniel Newman at the Swan Inn; 1859 Thomas Powell, White Swan; 1865 Henry Jones, White Swan; 1875 William Wise; 1889 John Scorey (& Market Inn, Church Street).

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