The property was built in three stages. The oldest part, that from the high street, dates from C1775, and is of classical Georgian architecture. The front façade is “unbalanced” by the four blocked windows and the two replacements, a result of the window and glass tax, not abolished until 1851.
In the early nineteenth century a linking block was built, joining the old barn and the main property, probably as a result of increased trade. The barn had an arched entrance to Tillbridge Lane and was at one time a ropery. The dining room in the private section of the house still has a “hit and miss” window which gave access to the archway, to see how many people were arriving by coach.
To bring the story up to date, by the 1851 census the property had become Manor Farm, and remained so until 1993 when it was acquired by Myra and Brian Cunliffe. They fully renovated and reopened it as “The Black Swan Guest House”. The original stable block that runs adjacent to the main building has now been converted into four well-appointed ground floor guest rooms. We became the owners in October 2003, adding a further two guest rooms, in addition to the existing eight, due to a steady increase in the number of guests.
